Chapter 2
"Ugh! How much farther?" groaned Lucy, dragging her feet as she walked a good ten paces behind the group.
"We're close. The burn site I found was the most recent, so the scent might be fresh enough for Natsu to pick up." Called Erza over her shoulder.
After another ten minutes of listening to Lucy's complaining, Team Natsu rounded a corner and found themselves staring at what looked like a black hole.
"Mavis." Breathed Natsu, half excitedly.
About a mile of forest was gone. There was nothing but black, as though something had scooped all the life out of the area and left it crumbling and silent. Everyone had stopped in their tracks, and after a few heartbeats Erza spoke quietly, breaking the spell.
"Natsu?"
"Yeah. I can smell him."
"I didn't think anybody but you could cause this much damage." Said Gray, kicking at a tree stump.
"You were right, Erza. I can see the farm over there." Said Lucy, pointing. "That is strange. Why cause this much destruction out in the middle of nowhere?"
"This seems similar to Zeref's magic when I saw him on Tenrou Island." Said Natsu. "But it doesn't smell like him. I can't place it. It's smoky, but sort of delicate."
"Delicate? I didn't think that word was in your vocabulary." Snorted Gray.
"You would say the same thing if you could smell it." Said Natsu seriously, too focused to retort. "Got it! Follow me!" Taking off through the trees, he waved the others on behind him.
"Not even a little rest?" whined Lucy, jogging along with the rest.
~.~
Soon, the team approached a clearing in the trees, where Erza stopped them.
"Natsu, is he just past those trees?"
"Yeah, I'm sure of it. Let's get him!" Natsu rushed forward, only to be pulled back by the nape of his neck.
"No. We need to have a plan. If he is as powerful as the evidence suggests, then we need to be careful." She peered through the trees. "I can see him. He's standing on the edge of the cliff on the opposite end of the clearing. Now, see how the trees go in a semicircle? If we split up, we can surround him so he can't escape. I'll go in first, and see if I can talk to him. Lucy, you go right. Grey, stay here in the middle, and Natsu, go left."
Natsu and Grey looked like they were about to argue, but Lucy interrupted, still panting.
"Sounds great! You got this, Erza!" And she slowly started walking towards her position.
Erza fixed the boys with a bone-chilling glare, and they obediently shuffled off.
"Don't move until he tries to escape or if I need backup."
~.~
Erza walked calmly forward, and stepped out into the clearing, sword in hand.
"Are you the fire mage who has been burning down the forest? Answer me!"
The figure in front of her turned around, and Erza's eyebrows shot up, but otherwise she showed no sign of emotion. She had expected…well, she didn't know what she had expected. Before her was a woman, tall and willowy with long arms and legs. She was armed to the teeth, with a katana, multiple daggers, and two dao swords strapped to her back. Her right eyebrow was pierced, and a black pauldron covered her left shoulder. She cut a fierce figure, and yet Erza sensed incredible sadness coming from her. She called out again, this time tense and ready to fight.
"Are you the fire mage? Or do you know where he is?"
"I…know where they are." The woman replied, struggling with her words as though straining with a heavy weight.
"Then tell me! Where is he?"
"She can't."
What? There was a pause, then Erza suddenly requipped and brought a shield up, barely blocking the dagger that had flown for her chest. As soon as she lowered the shield, however, she was immediately assaulted by two more knives being expertly wielded by someone who Erza saw was incredibly skilled. Curious, she took her time, mostly playing defense to learn the stranger's movements. She was just dodging a particularly vicious swipe when she collided with her opponent's knee. Erza felt herself fall to her knees, clutching her head.
This was inconceivable. She hadn't even begun to fight! She cursed herself for not striking sooner. Clearly, she had left herself open while playing her arrogant game. But she couldn't give up, there was no way she would lose! She summoned the strength to raise her sword, but was hit in the head again with a devastating crack. This woman had no sense of honor! To attack while her opponent was down, with a rock, no less! She tried to stand, but the ground rushed up to meet her. Still conscious, but beginning to feel the blood pool and flow from her skull, she became aware that her enemy had pulled her up to her knees again. Helpless, she was forced to meet her eyes as she was regarded closely.
She felt, as she locked eyes with her attacker, as though she was being read like an open book. The woman's eyes were almost cloudy, like she wasn't even there. Erza broke contact, and she heard a soft laugh that made her shiver. She felt a blade against the back of her neck, and a whisper she could barely make out. She didn't seem to be struggling with her words anymore. Where in the world were her friends?
"What pretty, scarlet hair." Erza's eyes jerked open. Scarlet. She knew her. Somehow, inexplicably, she knew her. She knew about—"I see how much Jellal loves it. So selfish of you to keep it for yourself."
Erza was shaking now. How did she know? What was this evil woman going to do to her?
"I think I'll keep some of it. As a souvenir." And with a few sharp swipes, all of her red hair lay in a pile at her feet, and the woman let go. Erza fell hard, tears running down her face. The last thing she heard before succumbing to oblivion were seven words:
"I wonder what they'll call you now."
~.~
Gray had moved to his position, cursing Erza silently. He paced aimlessly, but at the sound of clashing metal he looked towards the clearing, moving closer to the edge of the trees. He saw Erza holding a shield with a dagger buried inside it. He was impressed by her opponent's speed, but they were no match for Erza. No contest. He smirked, and turned around to return to his post. He had almost reached it when he heard a sharp crack. Curious, he returned to see what was going on. He stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening. He had turned his back for maybe thirty seconds. How could Erza be slumped, defeated, so quickly?
Gray stumbled into the clearing, paying no heed to the dark figure who had returned to the edge of the cliff. He dropped to his knees next to his fallen comrade, jaw slack with disbelief and rage. He stared for a moment. Erza was in bad condition, blood running down her face, mingling with streaks of tears. The bastard cut her hair?! Why? He gingerly moved her now short mane aside to look at her injury. This was bad. If they didn't get help soon…He removed his shirt, applying pressure to the wound.
He whipped his head around to glare furiously at…a woman? He paused, looking her up and down warily. What kind of trick was this?
"You're…are you the fire mage? Answer me quickly, and you might escape with your life!" demanded Gray, shaking with rage.
"Please…stop asking. Take your friend and…go." What was up with her voice?
"Just tell me! What are you hiding?"
"She's gone…take him away…she'll die because of your negligence, Fullbuster!"
Gray roared, charging her blindly. "Ice Make—!" He suddenly found himself careening towards the trees, his chest aching from an expertly placed kick. He slammed to the ground between two young trees, fairly certain he had felt a crack. Who was this woman? He didn't have time to think, because she was already closing in. "Ice Make—!" But he was cut off again, this time by a distractingly beautiful face close to his. She had slipped inside his stance? How—but she was looking into, no, past his eyes. What was she doing? He unclasped his hands to push her away, but she had bought all the time she needed. She flung his arms upward, the backs of his hands slamming into the trees on either side. Before he could react, two daggers had buried themselves into his palms, trapping his hands firmly to the tree trunks.
Gray screamed in pain, and he heard a ripple of laughter in his ear. His head was yanked back by his hair, and he heard that change in tone more clearly now. Her voice was clearer, but far more sinister, as she whispered:
"Look at her, Gray. Look at Erza." His head was jerked forward as he was forced to gaze at Erza again. His eyes watered as he choked,
"What do you want, you bitch?"
"Want? I want for nothing. I have the girl. As for you, I'm disappointed. I expected more from you, but you can't even muster the guts to fight for your comrades. I want you to know: your little friends will meet the same fate. I will break them, just as I did Erza…and you. Know this, and know that you have failed them all."
Gray felt something collide with his head, and blackness engulfed him. The last words he could make out were:
"Ul and Ultear clearly died for nothing. Such a disappointment."
~.~
Lucy walked slowly through the forest, dragging her feet. Erza could take care of herself, there was no need to rush. She stumbled to her position, and plopped down among some ferns. Nothing wrong with a quick rest…
Her eyes snapped open at the sound of Gray screaming. She had heard him cry out in pain before, but this was different. This sound was mingled with rage. Lucy started running towards the clearing. She burst through the trees just in time to see a heavily armed woman hit a pinioned Gray in the head, knocking him unconscious. Her eyes darted to the side. Erza! Tears pooled in her eyes as she took in the scene. Erza and Gray, two of the strongest mages she knew, defeated and severely injured. And…was Erza's hair cut? Her eyes widened as she realized her situation, but she held her ground. Her hand hovered over her whip as she called out,
"What did you do to my friends? Are you the fire mage everyone's been talking about?"
She saw the woman's posture slacken a bit, and was surprised to hear a quiet strained voice reply,
"I can't hold…no, leave me alone."
"So you're not the mage? Then why did you hurt my friends?" Tears of anger were spilling down Lucy's cheeks as she struggled to gain control.
"They wouldn't…he stopped…come and get me, little girl. Mommy and Daddy want you to come home."
Lucy's eyes widened as more tears nearly blinded her. Hurriedly wiping her eyes, she prepared to fight, when she looked up to find the strange woman standing right in front of her. Lucy paused, confused. Why were her eyes so clouded? And why did they make her feel so strange?
The woman suddenly turned and walked quickly away, heading towards the cliff. At the edge, she turned, and held up something shining. Lucy gasped. Her keys! She looked down, stupidly, but that cow must have picked them off of her while Lucy was distracted. She looked sharply at the woman, rage beginning to course through her veins.
"Give them back."
"Your spirits. They love you so much. So helpless." She was having no trouble speaking now.
"You…are going to pay." Quivered Lucy, barely able to speak. She started running at the stock still figure, unsure of what to do, only knowing that she had to save her friends. She took out her whip, and cracked it at the stranger as viciously as she could.
Instead of making contact, she felt a yank as the woman jerked her forward, using her whip against her with surprising strength, stopping Lucy with a hand at her throat.
"If you make a surprise appearance, Leo, I will kill her. You know I will." She called out.
Lucy gulped for air as her thoughts raced. How could she know about Loke? How could she know about any of this?
"You were always the weakest, Lucy Heartfillia. You let your little pets do all the fighting for you. So useless." Suddenly, the keys were gone from her hand. Lucy silently screamed as she looked down, her keys glittering as they fell. And then they were gone.
The woman smirked and tossed Lucy to the ground. She knelt beside her and began massaging Lucy's throat. Lucy opened her eyes, still crying, but feeling her throat come back to life under the stranger's surprisingly gentle hands.
"I need you to sing for me, little bird."
Lucy began to struggle. "Natsu!" She screamed.
"Beautiful. Now let's turn up the volume." Pulling Lucy by her hair, she dragged her towards the middle of the clearing. "You will always hold him back. How does that feel?" And the woman brought her foot down onto Lucy's leg with a sharp crack.
~.~
Natsu huffed off sulkily. Erza always had to take the fun out of everything! He wanted a piece of the action! Maybe the wizard would be strong enough for Erza to need help. He sniffed hopefully as he walked more quickly to his position.
He squatted, peering through the trees, but all he could see were blurry shapes and a flash of red. Erza. He relaxed, sitting on his butt. A minute passed. He poked at a passing caterpillar, bored. Suddenly he heard Gray screaming. Natsu's ears pricked up, but he smirked. So Gray had his work cut out for him? He started to think this wizard might be a fun challenge.
Another minute went by, and Natsu's head suddenly snapped up. He charged toward the clearing, cursing his dumb brain. If Gray was in pain, that meant Erza was down, maybe Gray too.
"Natsu!" Oh, no, Lucy!
He burst through the trees just in time to see a strange woman stomp on Lucy's leg.
Lucy screamed. Natsu's stomach clenched at the sound. It was heart wrenching and absolutely terrifying.
"Stop! What are you doing? Lucy!" Natsu rushed forward.
"Take one more step and she dies." Whispered the woman, calmly. Natsu stopped in his tracks. She was holding her two dao up against Lucy's throat, lifting her face up. Her throat was bruised, and she was sobbing. Natsu saw red, but he stayed put. He glanced to the side. Erza was bleeding and her hair was gone. Gray was pinned and unconscious. And Lucy was being tortured in front of him.
"N-Natsu. She knows us. She's too powerful. Please…run!" sobbed Lucy.
"Never." Said Natsu, grinding his sharp teeth.
"No. You won't run. And I'm glad of it. I want something of yours. The scarf, in exchange for the girl."
Natsu touched Igneel's scarf, tears running down his face now.
"Natsu, don't. I'm not worth it—Aaaaaaaaah!" Lucy screamed again as the woman stomped on her other leg.
More tears poured out of Natsu's eyes, as he said through gritted teeth: "Don't ever say that, Lucy. Don't you dare." He almost screamed in frustration and rage. But he wiped his tears away, and took off his scarf. Walking slowly toward the stranger, he held out his father's gift, glaring at her with all of the hate and heat he possessed. She smiled without showing her teeth, and gently took the scarf.
She withdrew her dao, sheathing them and stepping away from Lucy. Natsu dropped to his knees, cradling Lucy's head, unsure of what to do. He looked up, and was startled to see that evil woman drop to her knees, shaking. She had left an opening! He prepared to blast her with all the fire he could muster when she turned her face to him.
Tears were pouring down her face. For a moment, she scanned the clearing before looking straight at him. Enraged, he finally roared at her, sending his strongest flames straight at her.
There was a gulping sound, and suddenly his flames were sucked into her mouth. She swallowed, and began to sob, still gazing at Natsu. He looked at her, mouth agape as she said,
"You have what you came for. I'm so…I can't…" And with that, the fire mage threw herself off of the cliff.
