The chained heart.

Recap:

"All of you listen up. You will ALL keep silent you will ALL listen and so help me gods NOT A DAMN ONE WILL JUDGE! Am I clear?" he asked his children firmly. At their compliance, he gave Lucy the go ahead to begin her tale. Lucy approached the podium and picked up the little winged mike flicking its switch, master may be able to project like that but she would loose her voice if she tried to do that. And there were going to be a lot of questions. With a deep breath she steeled her self.

It was time.

Lucy looked at her comrades, her family and knew that this was the only chance she would have to warn them. She cleared her throat and fixed her gaze on Natsu.

"I need a promise from all of you before I tell you what I have to say. Once I start my tale there is no going back, and no stopping what has to be done. Because once I tell you the name of my offender, once I start to tell you my story, the curse will take effect. Don't stop me from speaking no matter what you see. I mean it. PROMISE!" she demanded firmly eying the ones she knew may want to interfere, her gaze lingering on each one. Everyone's face held shock. And suddenly Gajeel stood up and walked to the base of the stairs he looked at Juvia and she understood the unspoken request.

"Anyone don't like it I don't give a shit. Anyone tries to stop Bunny Girl here from telling her story's gonna be put down for nap time, no questions asked!" "That goes for Juvia too. Should you break your promise Juvia will not hesitate to hurt even Gray-sama to allow Miss Lucy to have her say." Everyone in the guild nodded their consent and Makarov hopped to the main floor to make sure his children behaved themselves. With that said Lucy steadied her self stepped to the side of the podium followed by the little mic.

"When I was little my mother passed away. I became angry and rebelled against my father, becoming what my father called a hard to handle child. When I was 8 my father sent me to live with my uncle on my fathers side. Attempting to teach me what it was like to be a real lady not bothering to take the time to do so him self. How ever I do not blame my father for this because he could never have known, no one could have it was kept hidden very well." Lucy paused feeling the burning sensation begin that she was all to used to. She shook her head to collect her thoughts and continued. This was the hard part.

"At first I had a great time! The maids were super nice and there was so many new things to do. But one day just after I had been there about six months something changed. My uncle who had been so kind and so attentive started to treat me more...intimately. At first I did not understand but when I did I tried to distance my self from him. My uncle he didn't approve of my sudden withdrawn behavior and started to berate me about how unladylike I was, and how little I reminded him of my dear mother. He convinced me that I was weak and small, that I was ugly and that if I were going to snag a good husband to further our families ties in society I needed to learn obedience. On one of those days I could not take it any longer, I became angry with him at the injustice he showed me. Even though a part of me had started to believe the lies he told, there was still the strength to fight. I slapped him, hard. I screamed at him that he was wrong and that there was nothing bad about me and that one day I would be as great as my mother because she told me so." Lucy started to tremble. The pain was starting to effect her, they could not see it yet but they would. Soon. A small hand placed it self on hers giving it a squeeze of assurance, in someway attempting to give Lucy some of her own strength. But when she spoke again Juvia as well as everyone else understood that she was in a pain that would be hard to take away, even harder to protect her from.

"He punched me in the face. Hard. I felt like my whole face had been split open with the force of it. But what I didn't know was that the worst of the pain, the worst of the terror was still yet to come. He ordered me to my room and told me that later he would summon me. That later he would teach me what it was truly like to be a women of society and the sacrifices I would have to make to keep my husband from straying. I went to my room and attempted to hide afraid of what would happen later. Because suddenly my smiling uncle. The one my mother loved so much had changed, he had become evil and there would be no going back. That night a maid came timidly to my door, she peeked inside and coaxed me to follow her assuring me there was little to worry about that she was positive that he only hit me because I hit him and that I should apologize and he would forgive me. As sweet as she was she was wrong. Because for me that night there would be no forgiveness only pain and what he called retribution for my wild ways. He told me that I needed refining, and that he was sure I would need special skills to please my husband because I would never compare to his dear dear sister. He said it with such conviction I believed him. He then wrapped my body in ropes, harsh thin ones with little hair sized spikes from my neck to my torso trapping my arms behind me in an awkward way that forced me to push my small chest out, and he hung me on an hook attached to a chain and anchored to the ceiling. To these ropes he attached chains, strung taunt to keep me from moving too much, he then walked behind me and pulled out a black whip, tipped in a small barb. He lashed me twice, and I didn't scream, I was in shock more then in pain. My brain not registering what was happening. He didn't like it he wanted me to scream. And with his powers he could make me do just that. You see my uncle has the power to summon or create anything he wishes. The ropes that bound me were proof of how sick his imagination was. When he approached me he created two clips attached to little chains. They were attached to a little box in the middle. With his whip he cut off my small dress and attached them to my small chest. Then walking back behind me again ignoring my whimpers of fear, he lashed me again only this time when he did those clips emitted an electrical shock, sending waves of pain to my body as he laughed. I screamed in agony, and my screams only died when I lost my voice, from then on my screams were silent. Every time I thrashed he would find a new way to punish me telling me this is how he would teach me obedience. When he was done showed me how happy I had made him by being such a good girl and screaming for him when he asked, that he would show me how to make the pain feel...good." Lucy paused attempting to breath she needed to get this over with or she would pass out before she finished.

"that night he raped me, and every night after that for three years. After a while I became numb forcing him to try new ways to get me to scream. Eventually I think I frustrated him because he started to punch kick and slap me in anger hoping to get a response. I only watched him with dead eyes. Each night the same maid would take me and clean me up and each night I would beg to be set free. She would look at me with the same lifeless eyes and tell me she wished she could do just that. And each night I felt more and more alone. I learned to feel dirty, disgraced, broken, used, and worthless. I had learned my place and it was at the feet of my master." she spat the last word vehemently. " it stayed like that until one day I snapped and spit in his face. My first retaliation since I had slapped him. And I paid for it. I paid dearly. He didn't let me go to my room for five days. Refusing me food water or medical attention. By the time he was done my back was like raw meat and I had lost so much blood I was delusional. That night when I was taken back to my room the maid that tended me broke down. She told me that she would help me. She knew it would cost her her life but she couldn't let him keep doing this too me, that she would not let him kill me as he had her daughter. That night we hatched a plan never knowing that he would call for me the next morning. So soon. It seems in that five day period he had developed an insatiable appetite and wanted to pick up where we had left off. When he was through he looked at me oddly and then chanted some words I didn't understand and I was wracked with immense pain. He had cursed me. He explained that should I ever attempt to retaliate against him and tell someone what had happened the curse would begin. And in six month time after constant agony I would die alone as was befitting the girl who had killed his beloved sister. I was trash an someone should have thrown me away a long time ago." Lucy let out a small yelp of pain. But continued. "he explained that he would kill me and any one dear to me after they were sufficiently punished for picking up such useless garbage. That night I think he let my maid help me. But even so I knew I could not fight him. No matter how strong I became I would not defeat him. Because even if I had never told anyone and the curse had never taken effect, if I stood against him I would be put to death by the rune knights, with out the opportunity to defend my self. Because you see, my uncle is not just a normal noble and the kingdom of Fiore does not take kindly to people threatening the life of the crowned prince. My Uncle is Liam Celestie, next in line for the throne and my greatest enemy. To oppose him would be a direct act of treason and there would be no stopping my sentence." soon after she finished a bright light appeared, and suddenly she was in agony. Knowing what she had to do next she took a leaf from Juvia's book and ripped open the blouse that Virgo had given her throwing it to the floor and standing topless in front of the guild, bearing her scars for the whole guild to see. To understand why she was so afraid, they had to see the scars she had already gained. There was a collective gasp as the scars had started to leak blood. An effect of the curse she was sure. But some how those wounds bleeding felt as though they were cleansing themselves, clearing away the chains that had bound her and setting her free. Finally someone knew, finally someone would understand. And she would never be alone again. She gave them all a hard stare, "this is the price I pay for my freedom. But I will not let it be in vain. With or with out you I will kill Liam Celestie and lift this damn curse. But I needed you all to know that I share this with you willingly, and because I feel you deserve to know what happened if I don't come back." she finished. And when she turned to Juvia she saw her beaming with pride at her friends strength and determination to stick with her.

"Juvia will fight Miss Lucy, even if you fall, Liam will die even if it must be by my hand he fill die." the blue haired women swore fiercely. Suddenly there was a loud crack and an echo of thumps. Looking down she saw Gajeel, she saw the tormented look on his face. She gave him a look that told him 'I don't blame you. It wasn't you who did this.' the iron dragon swore and said loudly.

"Dammit Bunny Girl! I'm with ya, that bastard will bend in so many ways he'll be a pulsing knot of flesh when I'm done. I will fight." the temperature in the room had become kind of crazy and it was hot and cold at the same time looking down to the middle of the floor she saw her team standing behind Master Makarov. Gray and Natsu consumed by their element and filled with a kind of rage that would only be satisfied with the mans death. Erza stood between them her swords swirling in her anger.

Mira not far away had turned to her blue demon form (different name? From episode 137. the forbidden demon form) she was cracking her knuckles. Each person in the room even Evergreen, Bickslow, and Freed, stood in their anger.

Tears streaming down her face she faced them all. "I'm sorry, each and everyone of you I'm sorry you deserved to know and I lied to you. I understand if you want nothing to do with me, I get if you are repulsed by me. And I'm so sorry." she cried out the pain breaking her resolve to stay as calm as possible to face them all. She fell to her knees begging forgiveness for lying to them. Suddenly she was being held tightly a soothing hand on her head patting her hair and calming her cries.

She looked to see the kind eyes of Makarov, who had begun to shake with rage. How could someone do such a thing! To a child! How could someone take something so delicate and precious and shatter it with out remorse. It was wrong! Clearing his voice he looked at his children choosing to speak when her sobs had quieted. Juvia took over everyone else not trusting themselves to step in, and cuddled the girl close to her humming a quiet lullaby to sooth her nerves.

"Children listen close because I don't want to repeat myself. What has been told to you is in the strictest of confidence. No one will betray that or they will be kicked out of the guild. No exceptions. If Lucy wants someone to join her she will tell them or tell us and we will support that. Otherwise your mouths stay shut. No being has the right to take away such innocence. And standing against this man will be considered an act of treason. But we will have to be smarter then that all who wish do join in this crusade step to the middle of the room the rest simply lend your support. Know that this is not a guild mission this is an act of family retaliation, this is personal, and anything done to further this mission will be forgiven with in the guild though I can not promise the same for the kingdom of Fiore, though we will try to head that off as soon as possible." Makarov told them waiting for those who were willing to come forth. There was a blur of movement and the middle of the floor was filled, every member of the guild right down to little Romeo, ready to take this battle on just as they had with Phantom Lord only this time, they were fueled by the injustice, and the pain of their dear nakama, and Makarov felt as though he would simply burst with the pride he felt for them at this moment. Not a single person hesitated and everyone would be there. A small voice broke through the crowd and everyone turned to look at Wendy. Lucy raising her head at the small girls voice looked at her to see such kindness, wisdom and acceptance that Lucy's tears came anew only this time from relief.

"I will fight. I will stand with you. But you must promise me something in return." at the older girls nod she looked at her with a pain in her eyes that broke Lucy's heart. "you have to promise never, ever, EVER say such horrible things about yourself again! There is nothing wrong with you. You were no bigger then me you could not fight him any better then any of us could have at that age. You should have been able to trust him, he was your nakama! Your family! He was supposed to protect you but instead he destroyed you. He is the one who is dirty, he is the one who is shameful, and he is the one who is disgusting. You are pure! I am a healer I can tell, you are pure and beautiful and I hope to grow up to be just like you because I've never known anyone as kind and selfless as you are. He is EVIL and he will be purged." The small girl declared with a kind of vehement conviction that made even Makarov shiver at the intensity. "She is right Lucy. You are stunning from your body to your soul, and the man who did this will suffer dearly for trying to take that away from you." Erza pipped in. there were growls and cheers of approval all around the guild. Happy swooped down suddenly and grabbed Natsu at his silent command and dropped up on the top floor. He swooped Lucy from the arms of Juvia ignoring the blood and crushed Lucy in to a tight hug. He pulled back after a moment and looked her in the eyes, his emerald ones piercing through her own golden brown orbs.

" You wont ever have to be alone again Luce, you hear me! You are not fighting this alone. And I will never let anyone harm you again. I am just sorry of the pain you were caused to satisfy our need to know. Six months ain't nothing got it! We're gonna find him and string him up and drag his sorry ass all across Fiore, and when he's had enough he will be settled into a pain he's never known cause I'm gonna light that son of a bitch on fire and watch his skin burn off!" Natsu told her inciting shouts of approval from the crowd below. Everyone was with her, she was not alone and suddenly the implications of that sent the blond in to a frenzy of tears as she threw her arms around the dragon slayer and squeezed with all her might. She passed out just then holding the boy tightly in her arms and a feeling of overwhelming joy filling her to the brim. She would never be alone again.

Seeing that the girl had gone slack Natsu pulled back noting she had passed out, Carla grabbed Wendy and raced her to the top floor as Juvia helped lay the unconscious girl on the floor, her head resting in Natsu's lap as she would grab for him if he moved away completely. Not that he minded, he was not going to leave her side until this was finished. And even then somehow he knew he wouldn't have it any other way. Wendy surveyed the damage clicking her tongue in dislike.

"Who ever that monster is, he did a number on her." Wendy commented attempting to heal the girl. The cuts would close only to open again when she moved to another one to the small healers dismay. She had healed wounds like these before but this must be the effect of the cures. She swore and looked at Carla for help "if the wounds don't close she will bleed out. But I can't keep them closed, its like something keeps opening them every time I try." the little white exceed gave her master a hard stare. "you know what you have to do then." with that in mind the little girl nodded and looked around the room. "I need a stone. Something I can store energy in something on a string. Quickly!" the guild started to action searching their pockets looking for anything in their possession that would help.

"Here." everyone looked to the voice to see Cana holding a pendant of rose quartz shaped like a heart. "it was my mothers, I don't have a chain any longer but if it will help I will gladly give it up." she usually drunk women said clearly. Gajeel held up his hand.

"i think I can fix that problem." he said catching the pendant in his large hands he quickly called forth his magic and created a thin iron chain to hold the little heart. Looking at his work he tossed it to Makarov with a smirk. "some how for now I think this is fitting. The chained heart. Though it wont be that way for long." Makarov took the necklace and handed it to Wendy who nodded gratefully.

"I don't know that I have enough power to do this but I will try my best." she bowed her head over the pendant as though saying a prayer as her body began to glow and the energy began to flow quickly into the small crystal, the glow started to die out and Wendy knew she was running low on magic. This was a big spell, one she was cautioned to cast unless it was a dire need. She couldn't give up though she couldn't fail before they even got a chance to fight. With this in mind she started to push harder, forcing her self to stay focused. Just when she thought she was going to sap the last of her power there were several flashes of light and all of the guild stood astounded to see all ten of Lucy's zodiac spirits standing around her in a semi circle.

"we will lend you our power, each of us will give a part of our life force to keep her alive and tied to this world." Loki said placing his hand on the small girls shoulder he started to glow as each spirit joined hands and did the same, the glow became intense almost blinding, and started to flow into Wendy and then to the crystal. Soon the glow died down and the heart that was once a bright pink was now a deep purple. The spell was cast. Cutting off the flow of energy she placed the necklace on the girls neck and started to heal her once more. Just before she blacked out she saw the wounds starting to heal. Carla picked up the exhausted little girl and took her down to Mira to asking to be taken to a bed to lay the girl down in. Loki the only spirit left looked at the guild and smiled.

"I knew you would stand beside her. I knew you wouldn't let her down. Thank you for that." he turned to Natsu and gave him a hard stare. "You had better fix her dragon breath, or I'll beat you to a pulp got it?" Natsu looked confused. "But we just healed her, she's not bleeding anymore." Loki shook his head at his naive friend, "But there are some wounds that can not be healed by magic. You should know that. Some scars leave their imprint on a person's very soul, and if she doesn't heal those she will lose her sanity in this battle. So I leave it to you because you are the only one who can." with that he vanished keeping the teen from asking him to explain. Feeling a hand on his shoulder he looked up to see the blue haired water mage. "you will know what to do when it is time. Believe in yourself and believe in her." with that she walked down the stairs to Gray as he enfolded her in his embrace, Natsu watched with a small bit of understanding. He had to heal her heart. It was broken and infected with hate, and somehow he understood that he was the only one who could put the pieces back together. He was not clear on what that entailed at the moment or what the feelings bubbling in side him were but something told him that was his purpose, and he would not fail.

"Take her home boy, she needs rest. And don't leave her side until she is back at the guild tomorrow, and please try not to burn anything down okay?" Makarov stated calmly. Natsu nodded his head and cracked a grin. "I wouldn't in Lucy's apartment anyway, she'd kill me! And she's scarier then Erza when she's like that." he called Happy who flew to him with an "Aye!" and followed his foster father out of the guild, and down the streets of Magnolia to Lucy's apartment. Once there Happy unhooked Lucy's keys after convincing Natsu he couldn't simply jump through the window. And used them to unlock her door and lead the pink haired boy to her bed. Placing her down on the bed, Natsu was startled when Virgo appeared.

"I will dress the princess for bed you may go wash up." she told them with a dismissive nod as she eyed her mistress with pride. She may have been the chained woman but Lucy was the one who was truly chained. She hoped one day she could help to break those chains but until then she was just so proud of her delicate little master. She had had strength where few would have. She had faced her fear when many would have been content to hide. She knew she had made the right choice when she decided to give herself to Lucy, and she knew that as long as she was alive, she would never regret that decision. Finishing her task she called Natsu and Happy back in the room and smiled at the boy. So young with so much left to learn, but he was the right choice she just hoped her master figured that out soon. For people who enter a battle with a broken heart often lose, and though she may fall and the spirits would continue to fight for her, alongside her nakama, she wanted her master to feel peace before entering this battle so that she would see the situation clearly and not have her judgment clouded by fear or hate.

"I will take my leave, but do not hesitate to call me or any of the others should you need our help. We will fight along side you in this battle. In the spirit world this would not have happened there are strict laws about it bound by magic. A spirit would loose their life force to break this law. This is a sin even to us." with that she gave them a parting smile and with a poof of lavender smoke she was gone.

Natsu approached the bed and looked at the angle before him feeling a sense of pride he didn't realize had been there before. Lucy was strong, and when she couldn't be he would stand in her place. With that thought in mind he settled him self on the floor intending on sleeping the night there rather then face the girls wrath when she woke up and caught him with morning wood again. Its not like it was his fault it was natural Igneel had taught him that, but damn she could be scary when she was pissed off. Happy flew to her bed and landed curling in to a tiny ball under the girls arm. At the movement Lucy stirred a bit and cracked her eyes.

"Happy?" she asked seeing blue fir. "aye, you should get some rest k your gonna need it!" Happy told her sleepily. "Natsu?" she called sounding scared. What if he had left her. The boy grabbed her small hand in his large one, stopping her from panicking.

"I'm right here Luce just didn't wanna get beat up in the morning, plus Happy's right you need your sleep. Tomorrow is a big day." he said shifting to kneel at her side. Lucy blushed slightly but looked at their hands joined her pale one against his well tanned larger one. Making a decision she looked him in the eye pleading.

"Could you hold me. Just until I fall asleep. I just don't want any more nightmares, and they don't seem to come when your with me. I feel safe with you. I understand if you don't want to after knowing the truth, but just this once, please?" she asked him her eyes looking haunted. Swiftly he was out of his vest and sandals and on the bed next to her. Quickly he enveloped her in his arms disturbing the sleeping cat who moved to the pillow. And looked her in the eye.

"you will always be safe with me, Luce you should know by now I'd never let you down. Besides what I know now changes nothing your still just as amazing, and weird as you were the day I met you. That will never go away." he told her sincerely. She started to cry as she looked at him the tears coming slowly.

" I know that. Somehow I've always known. You've been keep my nightmares away for months now." she said wrapping her arms around Natsu burying her head under his chin and pulling him as close as she good, smiling when she felt him tighten his grip. Her tears dried and she started to drift to sleep. They were both almost asleep when they herd the faint mischievous voice of the little blue Exceed say...

"She liiiiikes you."

"Shut up cat!" both teens snapped both teens smiling a little. That night Natsu fell asleep with one thought on his mind. 'maybe I do.'

Note:

thank you all for keeping up with my story so far. If makes me feel loved. I promise you it will not be all dark from here on out. There will be some as to be expected but Fairy Tail bounces back to get wasted again! And its shameful to climb into a bottle while depressed, so they will be back to them self's just with renewed determination in the next chapter. -Essy.