Partial Return
Chapter 2
Shift to Omniscient View
The guild didn't take too kindly of Loke's sudden intrusion. The guild members, who were each casually doing their own things, some of which is Levy, together with Jet and Droy, has her nose furrowed in a giant heap of books.. the genres of books she read were so diverse that Jet and Droy eventually stopped trying to figure out her favourite genre. It wasn't as if they wanted to find out what kind of book they'll gift to her that will, hopefully, get her to like them, in a romantic sense, or maybe, just finally, notice their not-so-subtle displays of strong emotions towards her and finally see them in a different light… No, they were definitely not planning, rather not doing that. Good or bad motives aside. Meanwhile, in a secluded corner at the guild, just five feet across Levy, a moody dragon slayer picks at his food in thinly veiled attempt to hide his irritation and increasing frustration at the two flies who were always, always hanging around a certain mousy bookworm, who was certainly not Levy mind you.. Why would he even pay attention to that midget? She was so small and petite that he often had troubles finding her..err… seeing her. Yea, that's it.
Levy, whilst in the middle of her intense perusal of Letter Recognition Magic, suddenly thought of Lucy. She hasn't talked to her in a while… has three hours passed already? The book contained quite a number of interesting information on how to recognize script-based magic, how to decipher them and its many different forms. She supposed that Lucy will take a liking to them, being an avid writer, as well as being well versed with the arts, brought about by her socially high class will be able to learn decoding script and runes, and eventually, with much training and diligence, she might also be able to create runes and scripts herself, albeit in their basic forms. Levy looked up to find Lucy, but apparently, she was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she saw two flabbergasted and confused individuals standing stark, in this case, one stark naked, but with boxers thank gods, at the middle of the guild. She called out to them.
"Natsu. Gray, have you seen Lu-chan?" She asked while she left her stool to get closer to them, she also can't help but ask herself why they were sporting such ridiculous expressions on their faces. Natsu, who overdoes everything, has managed to contort his face into an almost comical image, his mouth hung in a trapezoid, with his eyes unbelievably large. She almost thought that the whites would pop out, if that was even possible. Meanwhile Gray, who was never the one for over the top idiosyncrasies.. so unlike the fireball beside him, was showing a more benign expression, mainly confusion. Her question seemed to have snapped them out of whatever stupor they were in.
"WHAT THE HECK? LUCE!? WHERE DID YOU GO?!" He shouted fiercely. This then attracted the attention of some of the guild members. Erza, who was midway of biting into another slice of cake, stopped eating to see what the commotion was all about. She stood and marched to them.
"What do you mean? Where is Lucy?" Erza demanded. This was concerning her teammate, the bubbly blonde who she had slowly considered to be her closest girl friend, possibly a sister. She took it upon herself to be always well informed, and up-to-date on Lucy's life. She occasionally barges… goes into Lucy's apartment to check on her and the state of her apartment. She wouldn't call it barging in, for unlike Gray, Natsu, Cana, or anyone who broke into Lucy's apartment, she has a key. All you have to know is that Lucy has no idea how she had somehow duplicated her key without her knowledge, and that she doesn't has the slightest hint that Erza even has a key to her apartment. It's common sense right? Having a key will allow easier mobility if ever Lucy were to get into any trouble within the confines of her apartment.
"LUCE! SHE WAS JUST RIGHT HERE!" Natsu continued still as fiercely. He was sniffing the air now, for Lucy's scent. Her scent is distinct, very easily identified in comparison to other murky scents. The scent of Vanilla and strawberries wafted through his nose. It was most concentrated at their position right now, where she just had been fleeting moments ago. Right before Loke had taken her. Loke, he thought, why did he take Lucy? And where?
"Erza, we were talking to Lucy when suddenly Loke appeared and took her, we don't know where they went, just that they must've teleported." Gray finally said, seeing that Natsu was too preoccupied with his own to notice Erza. And one shouldn't ever ignore the likes of Erza Scarlet. He shuddered. The repercussions will be on borderline fatality, and he was not, not, no matter whatNatsu says, suicidal. Anyway, he knows Erza must be worried too by this; Lucy has been one of their closest companions. Yea it's given that in Fairytail, everyone is their family, nakama, as one would say, but out of everyone, them four are tightknit. They constantly went to hell and back together, each supporting one another.
"Did he say anything before he left?" Erza asked. She was a bit relieved that it was Loke. After all, he was one of the, if not the closest spirit to Lucy. And she knows, with no doubts, that he will never harm or put Lucy in harm's way Ever. Her spirits extreme loyalty and deep love for Lucy can rival their own love for their guild, if not more. Servitude is all part and parcel of being a Celestial Spirit. They fight for her, protect her, and sometimes, in Lucy's case, talk to her, like friends and companions. It was like they have devoted their life for her, which was evident by the many, many times they have been hurt protecting Lucy. Yes, she wasn't particularly worried, Erza concluded…But she still has to know of Lucy's whereabouts.
"None, nada. He just left as abruptly as he appeared taking Lucy him. I wonder though.." He trailed. There was something about Loke that seemed odd. He was less, chipper today, he can see. He didn't even do as much as greeted them, it was like he only saw Lucy. Which was odd, no matter how devoted he was to Lucy, he never forgot him, them. He was a fairytail mage, and even has a mark to prove it, before he became Lucy's spirit. Guh, I'm turning gay, Gray thought humourlessly.
"So… You both were talking to Lucy when suddenly Loke appeared and took her?" Levy said and looked at Natsu and Gray as confirmation. She sweatdropped. Rather, all of them. There Natsu was, on all fours, arduously sniffing the ground.
"Oi flamebrain, what the heck are you doing?" Gray exclaimed, his lips slightly downturned in disgust. Natsu's glutes was raised up high, just begging for Gray to kick it. He was so tempted to do it… but he didn't. Natsu was on to something here. But he will though, eventually. Maybe later.
Natsu looked up, his brows creased in concentration.
"I'm looking for Lucy's scent!" He exclaimed. Honestly, wasn't it obvious? And they said he was the dumb one. How else can they find Lucy? He just have to use his superior.. *Happy coughs in the background* senses to sniff out Lucy's scent and then locate her! Of course, he conveniently forgot the fact that Loke didn't carry, or physically went away with Lucy.. they just disappeared.
Gray did then badassedly kicked Natsu's arse, which sent him off flying onto the bar, a few feet where Lisanna was situated, who was lively chatting with Mira and Elfman.
"What the hell Gray! I was trying to find Lucy!"
"You're doing it the wrong way Flamebreath."
"I don't see you coming up with ideas to find her dumbtard!"
"What did you just call me?"
"You heard me! Or are you deaf as well?"
Just when everyone expected another catastrophic guild war to occur, Erza intervened.
"Are you guys fighting?"
Natsu and Gray stiffened and stopped halfway of their aerial lunge at one another. Standing close with an arm around each other's shoulders, with stiff, overly wide smiles, they said,
"No ma'am!" They chorused.
Erza, satisfied that they have resumed their jovial attitude towards one another, nodded.
"Good. And about Lucy, it is safe to say that she is not in harm's way. She is with Loke after all. I believe that he won't let anything happen to her. Else, he shall suffer severe consequences." She said whilst cracking her knuckles for added effect. This was very effective, seeing that half of the members shuddered as they felt Erza's horrifying aura. They just hoped Loke knows what he's doing, and that he brings back Lucy in one piece. One wronged hair and its… They don't even want to think of it, be positive.. they told themselves.
"Keep your eyes open though, Natsu, constantly visit Lucy's apartment and wait for her arrival. Me and Gray shall do the same. I expect answers, and I will get it from Lucy." She said in finality, while returning to her table, where her left-forgotten cake was.
Happy, making his presence known flew to Natsu's side.
"Aren't you guys a bit overreacting Natsu? I mean, Lucy is with Loke, not to mention, she can fight and defend herself too." Happy said.
"Of course not Happy! Nakamas look out for each other. And you know Luce, she attracts trouble wherever she goes, that's why we have to be there for her!" Natsu shouted heartily.
"Aye!" Happy shouted In agreement.
I was so exhausted, I didn't know healing could be this taxing. It hasn't even been ten minutes since I started pouring out my celestial manna to the Spirit King. At first, I didn't know what to do. I know I didn't have any healing prowess like Porlyusica, and certainly not a wind dragon slayer like Wendy, So when I finally entered the room that the Spirit king was situated in, I was an utter loss on what to do. He has shrunk, to almost three fourths his usual size. His colour, was not the usual vibrant shade I remembered him be, rather, he was a pale colour of offset white. His eyes, which I thought were always strong and clear, were fogged, almost dull. I can tell straight away that this was no normal affliction. I wasn't even sure if the Spirit King was capable of getting sick. Loke and the others, never got sick, they were immune to Earth's bacteria and viruses. I asked Virgo about this matter before, and she told me that spirits' bodies worked differently compared to humans. Of course, they still possess normal body organs, but they're blood is able to remove anything foreign that enters their system. I'm still not sure how this works, but I figured I'd just let it go.. for now.
So I thought that it's the same for the Spirit King too, turns out it was not. Unless… It was not caused by anything of-Earth. I mean, if you'd think about it, humans normally cannot enter this realm. It was strictly forbidden, not only because of the extreme time difference, I heard that humans can suffer severe body repercussions by staying here. It has something to do with different atmospheres, with the Spirit Realm having higher levels of magic, the magic so concentrated that it pierces and permeates your body. Inability to contain the foreign magic will cause pain to the human, which will eventually cause death. So, if it wasn't from Earth, then was it from here? Are there any possible afflictions that affect spirits? Or was he.. I was confused, there were so many possibilities, many reasons that could explain the Spirit King's situation. But I can't make myself to believe any single one.
"Loke.. what happened?" I asked. I settled with getting the answers from them. Assuming won't get me anywhere.
"He..He was baned."
"What?! He was poisoned?! How could that be possible? By who? Why?!" I exclaimed, a flurry of questions coming from me. Who could've possibly done this? Who wanted the Spirit King, if not dead, like this?! In this pitiful state?! I was extremely baffled. Were there rebels in the Spirit Realm? Did anyone possess hatred against the Spirit King's rule? What and Who could it possibly be?
"We are still not sure, but we have our suspicions. For now, let us concentrate on healing His Majesty, the afflicter shall be dealt with later." He said, his hair hung low, face morphed into utter anger. I know I was mirroring his expression, whoever the suspect was, he better be prepared. We won't take this direct show of deviance sitting down.
"Princess, I shall now explain the healing process." Virgo quietly said.
"Crux researched, and we have found that there was one instance that His Majesty suffered similar symptoms. As you can see, his body has shrunken. The poison, which we have discovered to be Fumerate, a substance extracted from the very rare Fume Drupe herb, has suppressed his magic ability. It closed off his magical containers leaving him incapable of supporting the magic here. We need you to channel out you energy or manna, and solidify it. Then, your manna must enter His Majesty. Once inside, locate his containers and perform a forced opening. You must destroy the barrier that suppresses his manna and guide its way back to circulation. It is a tedious process, for His Majesty possesses thirteen magical containers. It is also extremely taxing, since you will be forcing your manna, which you have never done before, to go out of your system and solidify it. It is similar to how a caster mage shapes his magic. We will be with you all the way Princess." Virgo said, while she tended to the miniaturized Spirit King.
I haven't done this before, so I don't expect positive results. If I should fail once, twice, thrice, no matter, I shall try again. As a fairytail mage, giving up is never an option.
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SO! I'm slowly working my way up to the present situation, while backtracking to all prior events. Hope you weren't confused? The story's format is in medias res, meaning it started in the middle. Again, no pairings yet, the romance will have to wait. Unless of course, if you squint, you might see some nalu there..maybe. Thanks for the reviewees!
Animeluver778
Paname
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