Still don't own Fairy Tail
Thanks so much for the great response to the last chapter. I hope you enjoy this one. Again, props to luffy fan for helping me get the kinks out!
At first, Lucy couldn't believe what she was hearing. Then, she absolutely refused to believe it. "Arcadios, you are an idiot. There is no fourteenth gate, I have no idea what or who Alduin is, and I have no idea why you dragged us up here. Let Yukino go."
Arcadios gave her a harsh look. "Stupid girl," he sneered. "If you weren't one of the last celestial mages, I would kill you right now for your impudence. For now, I will just show you how ignorant you truly are."
At that, he waved his hand and the mountain they were next to lurched and a yawning chasm opened up. Inside was a massive ball of swirling red that had to be some sort of lacryma. Arcadios gave another signal and a red stream shot out of the mountain and struck Yukino. Her mouth opened to scream but no sound came out as all the muscles in her body tensed at once. Her eyes rolled back in her head and Lucy feared she had died.
"No, no dear Lucy. I won't grant her death yet. And you should be glad. As soon as her body gives out, you will be next." Arcadios was mesmerized by the display and barely glanced back at Lucy.
"What are you doing to her? Please, stop!" she cried out to the madman.
"The red is the magical energy that has been gathered from the past seven years of the Grand Magic Games. Every attack and defense gives off energy and I have collected that in the hopes of finding a celestial mage to channel it through. And here I have not one, but two, there is no way I can fail! Since I am controlling the outflow of power, I can force the gate of the greatest celestial being into existence on this plane. This has never happened before because there has never before been a celestial mage strong enough to summon it let alone with enough magical energy to sustain it."
The wild haired man was almost giddy. Together they watched as the magic entered Yukino. The magic changed as she channeled it and she began to glow a brilliant white. Suddenly, light erupted from the tip of the cross into sky and formed a rippling whirlpool.
"See, it has already begun!"
Lucy was transfixed. It was beautiful and terrible but she couldn't turn away. There was no way Arcadios was telling the truth, he was insane! But she saw the beginnings of a celestial gate and could not deny the truth any longer.
"Why do you need us both?" she asked, not knowing if she wanted to hear the answer.
To her surprise, he turned to look her in the eyes. "Truthfully, I probably only needed you, " he explained. "But to be on the safe side, I wanted to start with the cast-off girl, to make sure the initial influx wasn't too much energy at once. Don't worry, when she is dead, you will get your turn."
Lucy couldn't believe what she was hearing. This young woman, who had been through such a terrible ordeal already, who had the capacity to be a great person, and who she now considered a new friend, was about to die. And there was nothing she could do. Helpless once again. She thought quickly. Or maybe not. She took a deep breath, "So, you could trade our places now, before Yukino dies? Wouldn't your plan still work? And isn't magic freely given more powerful than magic unjustly taken?"
Arcadios smirked, "Does your stupidity know no bounds? I just told you it would kill you. However, you are correct that magic given is more potent than that taken. Would you really sacrifice yourself to save this one's life? She was your enemy just a few days ago."
It was Lucy's turn to smile, "Yes. We came to an understanding of sorts. And if I am going to die anyway, if I can save her, then I can die with a clear conscious."
Honestly, Lucy had no intention of dying, but she knew that she had to get her friend out of that device. And maybe if she could see how it worked she could negate it. She had a million plans, a million ideas. Not the least that she knew Natsu was coming for her. Natsu would always save her. She just had to buy him time!
"If you insist, " he said nonchalantly and with another wave of his arm and Lucy was free to walk, but her hands were still bound behind her back. At the same time, Yukino was dropped from the metal contraption. Red energy still fed into it, but the light emitting from it faded somewhat. Some thug from behind Lucy grabbed her and dragged her to the cross. He dropped her off and threw the unconscious girl over his shoulder.
As he carried her off, Lucy asked, "She will be alright? I won't do this freely if you intend to harm her."
"Of course, of course. I have no need for her and she is too insignificant to kill now." Arcadios's smug reply irritated her. "You on the other hand, will beg to die before the end."
He approached her and clamped her arms to the cross in the same "Y" formation as Yukino had been in. He harshly snapped the metal collar into place. He jerked her keys from her hip and took them off their ring. One by one he placed them on the ornate flairs and they seemed to wield themselves onto the design. Lucy could feel the burn of the magic energy, but it wasn't unbearable. Until he placed the last key above her head...
Lucy's world went white. Blinding pain like she had never felt before coursed through every inch of her body. It felt like molten steel was being poured into every pour; scalding water forced into her eyes, ears, nose and throat. She needed to move, but movement made it somehow worse. She tried to think. Think of anything, her escape, Natsu saving her, her saving Yukino, anything. But all that filtered through was pain. Her spirits were beyond her now, all she could do was endure.
Arcadios had to take several steps back. He knew the girl was powerful, but nothing could have prepared him for the raw power that emanated from her as the transference took place. He could see the gate forming in the sky. Soon, he would have the dragon, the World Eater. Soon, he would be in control of the most powerful magical creature to have ever existed. The girl may be strong, but there was no way she could survive that much magic at once. He just had to make sure his mind was the first one that the Dragon connected with. The other girl was passed out and there were only a few other guards on the platform with him. They were of no concern.
And then it happened.
The sky broke just as the altar Lucy was restrained upon crumbled. She was still suspended in the same position, but she no longer looked in pain. Her mind was blank, her features the same. Her pupiless eyes completely unseeing. In a shimmer of light, she stepped forward, now clothed in a brilliant blue gown with a tight, jeweled bodice and flowing skirt. Her loose hair whipped around as she called out in a voice that was hers, but was a thousand others as well, " Open ancient and forgotten gate of the World Eater. Alduin, come forth!" She continued to float slightly above the platform, but didn't move anymore, except to lower her arms.
As the sun set, the darkest midnight took its place. The monstrous darkness took shape. Alduin was now on Earth.
Author's Note: Chapter 3 is written, but is being heavily edited because I was so excited when I wrote it. Its about double the size of this chapter. I think about 5 chapters wraps this story up, but remember, its only the prolog to something much bigger! Please feel free to leave comments, encouragements, or criticisms :)