AN: I'm glad everyone understood how the land was split up! I was worried that I wouldn't explain it well enough but looks like I did! :D Sorry for being late! Things happen. :') Anyways, hope you all enjoy this chapter! :D

Chapter 6

Duke Everlue

After discussing the possibility of the duke being the reason Shirotsume was in such bad shape, Lucy, Natsu, and Happy left their room to seek some information from the innkeeper. The innkeeper was a short man with side-swept black hair and a bushy mustache. He still had some meat on his bones, but it was clear by his baggy clothing that he was losing weight fast, probably from a drastic change of diet due to insufficient funds.

His wife stood beside him at the front desk. She was taller than him with auburn hair and stormy gray eyes. Despite their unpleasant circumstances, she still wore a kind smile on her face.

"How can I help you three?" the innkeeper asked. "Are you checking out already?"

Lucy shook her head and answered, "No, we actually have some questions to ask you."

"About what? The room?"

"No, no. It's actually about this town, Shirotsume. Do you think you can give us some information about it, Deguchi-san?"

The short man's eyes widened as he glanced around cautiously, his forehead beginning to perspire. He shared a fearful look with his wife before addressing Lucy again.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm afraid we can't help you with that."

Lucy frowned and asked, "Why not? It's clear that there's something wrong here. My friends and I are trying to fix it!"

"There is nothing to fix. We are fine. Now please, stop asking. It would be best if you just let it go."

"I can't let it go! A child came up to me in nothing but tattered rags! I can't turn my back on someone like that! Please, if you have any information to give we would really appreciate it."

"She is right," the older woman stated. She smiled at her husband and continued, "Look at the town, dear. We aren't going to survive much longer. People stopped coming here because it is in such a bad state. We can't keep going like this."

"But they're just kids!" the man countered. "We can't let kids go against him. That wouldn't be right!"

"Go against who?" Natsu questioned, his curiosity peaked. "The man that lives in the mansion? He's a duke, right?"

Deguchi warily nodded. "He is merciless. He will kill you and even us just for speaking ill about him. I insist you leave it alone."

"Any information on him would be helpful," Lucy replied. "We aren't kids. Natsu here is a dragon slayer and has strong magic! I'm sure he'll be able to protect us! And if not, Happy can fly us out!"

Deguchi looked towards his wife, who in turn nodded at him encouragingly. Mustering what little courage he had left, the man spoke, "The man that lives in that mansion and controls this town is Duke Everlue. He's only had power for a short time and already drove this town to its grave."

"If he's so bad, why don't you kick him out?" Happy questioned.

"Because he is powerful. Shirotsume isn't known for its mages. There aren't any that live here, not anymore. The ones that did that tried to oppose Everlue weren't strong enough and they didn't leave that mansion alive."

"T-That's terrible," Lucy said, covering her mouth with her hands. Would they end up like those mages? Sure Natsu was strong, but was he strong enough? All Happy could do was fly and it wasn't like she would be any help. She hadn't fought a day in her life.

"Don't worry," Natsu said with a smirk. "He's never been up against a dragon slayer before. I'll turn that guy into ashes!"

"Aye!" Happy cheered. "Then you guys can inform King Clive and he'll come by and help you out!"

"I'm sorry, but please don't go," Deguchi begged. "I don't want you kids to die."

"Don't worry," Lucy assured with a gentle smile. "Maybe we won't have to fight."

"Huh?" Natsu and Happy asked in unison.

"All we need is proof, right? There's no need to fight!"

"How will you get the proof then?" Deguchi asked.

Lucy smirked and replied, "I'll use my womanly charms. Back in Seattle, I used to get discounts using my womanly charms all the time!"

"A-Are you sure about this?" Deguchi's wife questioned.

"Definitely! This way nobody will get hurt! We just need to know if he has any fetishes!"

The boys in the room blanched at the statement.

"H-He has a thing for maids I think," Deguchi finally said. "He is always hiring them and whatnot. I suppose you could borrow one of our uniforms."

"That's perfect!" Lucy beamed.

Hours later, the trio were in their room while Lucy fixed her hair. The girl was already wearing the uniform, which hugged her ample chest tightly and didn't reach her knees. She split her long locks of golden hair into pigtails and smiled at her reflection.

"Are you sure about this, Lucy?" Happy asked for the tenth time.

Lucy sighed and answered, "Yes, Happy. The guy sounds like a real perv, this should work out perfectly. I'll work undercover and find clues as I go."

"How do you know he'll hire you?" Natsu asked with crossed arms.

The blonde smirked and gestured at herself. "Look at me, I'm the perfect bait!"

Natsu looked her over and repeated, "Again, how do you know he'll hire you?"

"I'm gonna kill you."

Natsu cackled along with Happy while Lucy forced herself not to throw the nearest object at them.

"I should get going now," she said, walking towards the door.

"Wait," Natsu replied, grabbing her wrist. "This is still too dangerous. It would be better if we just stormed in and surprised the bastard."

"No. You heard Deguchi-san. Everyone who tried to fight Everlue died. We need to do this without fighting. Besides, I wouldn't be any help in a fight. It would just be you against everyone."

"That makes it even better!"

Lucy sighed and shook her head. "No, Natsu. Just stay here. I'll be back before you know it! And think of it this way, it'll mean less money for you to spend on me! But you really shouldn't steal."

"Yeah, yeah. Be careful, Lucy. If something happens to you I won't be able to find Igneel," Natsu replied.

"And here I thought you were worried about me."

"As if that would happen."

Lucy giggled before waving and leaving the two to mope. The girl waved towards the innkeepers, who waved back in concern. With a big smile on her face, she skipped through town, eager to get to the mansion.

Though she wanted to get home more than anything, it still felt nice to help people, even if she was never going to see them again. All she did in Seattle was write and take orders at a crummy restaurant. Here she actually had the chance to be a hero and actually live the life of one of her characters in her story. It was dangerous but thrilling.

When Lucy finally reached the mansion, she gaped again at its size. She never understood how someone could need or even want to live in a house that big. What was the point if there was nobody to share it with? And the fact that there were so many people living on the streets when he had plenty of room to house them only angered her.

"This man is going to pay," she thought as she feigned a smile and knocked on the grand doors. The girl thought nobody was going to answer with how long it took for someone to open the door.

When someone did open it, Lucy had to crane her neck to get a view of the person's face because they were so tall. It was a maid with pink hair, though lighter than Natsu's. She was on the heavier side. Her face was not the most appealing of faces, but Lucy would never judge someone based on their looks.

"Who are you?" the woman asked.

"Hello. My name is Lucy," the blonde answered with a bow. "I was wondering if I could work for whoever greatly owns this mansion."

The woman eyed her suspiciously before replying, "The Master does not need any more maids."

"A-Are you sure? I'm sure I could be of some help! Can I at least talk to him?"

The woman eyed her some more before nodding and opening the door open for Lucy to enter. Lucy gaped at the house. It was more beautiful on the inside with marbled tile floors, pristine white pillars, paintings covering the walls and maroon curtains covering the windows. The maid led her up the stairs and towards a room. She knocked on it twice.

"Who is it?" a nasally voice sounded from inside the room.

"It is Virgo," the maid answered in her deep voice. "There is a girl here wanting to speak with you about becoming a maid."

"Let her in."

The woman, Virgo, opened the door and let Lucy inside, closing the door behind the blonde and leaving the two alone. Lucy eyed the man warily. He was short and round like a gumball. He had auburn hair, though it looked and probably was a toupee, and had hair coming from his nose to look like a mustache. He wore a nice suit with a rose tucked into the breast pocket. All in all, he looked like a disgusting man. Lucy fought the urge to cringe.

"Hello, it is nice to meet you," Lucy greeted, bowing with feigned respect.

Everlue twisted his 'mustache' and replied, "What are you doing here?"

"I would like to work for you."

The man eyed her in suspicion and questioned, "And why is that?"

Lucy frowned. She figured he would hire her on the spot. "Truthfully, I am in need of money."

The two maintained eye contact longer than Lucy would have liked but she didn't back down, not wanting to offend him. She would never get the job if she did. Finally, the man spoke again.

"I'm afraid I cannot hire you," he said, crushing Lucy's spirit. Though what really crushed her was what he said next. "I do not hire ugly girls."

A vein ticked in the blonde's forehead as she repeated, "Ugly?"

"Yep! I only hire beautiful woman! You, ma'am, are not!"

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Lucy screeched in anger, lunging towards the stout of a man. So much for keeping her cool.

"Virgo!" Everlue shouted.

In a golden light, the maid from before appeared and apprehended Lucy. The blonde thrashed under the other woman's hold, but it was futile. Lucy was stunned with how easily Virgo overpowered her. She knew she wasn't the strongest of girls out there, but she wasn't that weak.

"Maybe she's using magic," Lucy thought. "Damn it! I sure could use some!"

"Take her to the cellar," Everlue ordered.

Virgo nodded emotionlessly and exited the study, carrying Lucy with ease. The pinkette took her all the way down stairs where the entrance to the cellar was. Upon opening it, Lucy gasped at the sight below. There were piles of bodies stacked atop each other, some recently dead and others nothing more than a pile of bones. Tears crept into Lucy's eyes as she looked at the dead bodies. So many lives were lost trying to stop the villain.

And she was going to be the next.

"Let me go!" Lucy screeched, wriggling under Virgo's hold. "Put me down right now, Virgo!"

"I cannot," the maid replied. "It is my orders to put you here, so I must."

"But do you actually want to?" Lucy questioned desperately.

Virgo stood still as she contemplated the question. Nobody had ever asked her if she wanted to do something before. They only ever ordered her around like a machine. Eventually she began to believe that she was just that.

"I do not," Virgo answered, followed by a heavy sigh. "But the fact remains that I must."

With that, the pinkette tossed Lucy into the cellar, where she landed on top of the pile of bodies. The blonde screamed at the top of her lungs and scurried off, rubbing her skin as if to remove the germs away.

"Please, Virgo!" Lucy cried, tears streaming down her face. "Don't do this! You are a good person, I can tell!"

The maid shook her head. "I am not. Not anymore. I was the one that threw all of those bodies into this cellar. My hands are stained with lost lives that cannot be replaced."

"Then let me out so you don't add another to that list!" Lucy reasoned. "If Everlue is threatening you-"

"You are wrong. He isn't."

"T-Then why would you do this? It's clear you don't want to!"

"I am a celestial spirit."

"Celestial spirit?" Lucy repeated in confusion. "What's that?"

Virgo raised a brow. She had never met somebody that didn't know what a celestial spirit was, simply because they always tried to control her.

"I am a spirit that has a contract with Master. He controls me," Virgo answered. "I am unable to do anything against him."

Lucy shook her head. "I refuse to believe that. Nobody should ever have direct control over another!"

"But I am a spirit. I am nothing more than a weapon or a tool."

"No! You are a person with real feelings, whether you think you are or not! My friends are going to save me and we're getting you out of here too!"

Virgo's dull blue eyes brightened a bit with hope before she shook her head. "I'm afraid your friends won't be able to defeat him and will only be thrown in here with you."

With that, the maid closed the door to the cellar, leaving Lucy to scream for help. Though her cries were going to go unheard for a while.

AN: A bit of a short chapter but things are happening now in Shirotsume! :D I realized after editing this that things might be moving a little fast for this arc but I can't change it now so sorry! Hope you all enjoyed anyways! :D

Lucydragneetft13: I don't know how long exactly the story will be, but I'm thinking it'll be all the way in the 80's! :D I already have 40 written and it's not even halfway done! :)

Thanks to all of the reviewers: lucydragneelft13, Lunahartz, Alexa60765, Nalulove, IndianaCombs, Soul Eater Maka. You guys are always amazing and always make my day. :')