Chapter 8
"Ice Make: Wagon!" said Gray, conjuring up a large wagon. "Whatever we do, we can't leave Lucy here like this. That lunatic may come back and try to smash her," he said.
"Agreed," said Erza, as Natsu and Loke lifted Lucy's stone form up and lay her down in the wagon.
Once she was secure, Gray rounded on Natsu, punching him in the face, sending him flying into a wall. "This is all your fault, You Idiot!" he shouted. "If you had been paying attention and dodged that spell, Lucy wouldn't have had to save your worthless ass!"
Natsu pushed himself off the wall and retaliated by punching Gray back. "It's your fault too! We were doing just fine against that Witch! If you hadn't come in and distracted me, I would have been able to dodge it!"
"You're both wrong," said a miserable voice that stopped the two in their tracks from what would have been an all out brawl. Happy was sitting on the wagon's edge looking teary eyed down at his stone Nakama. "If I hadn't trusted the Witch in the first place none of this would have happened. It's all my fault!"
"No, it's not," said Erza in a forced calm voice. "We all share a portion of the blame for what happened. The only thing we can do is whatever we can to fix it."
"For what it's worth," said Loke seriously, "she's definitely still alive."
They all turned to look at the spirit hopefully. "How are you so sure about that, dearie?" asked Mrs. Beaver. "And who are you, anyway?"
"My name is Leo, I'm one of the Celestial Spirits that Lucy has a contract with," he replied. "And it's because of that I know she's still alive. If she were to die the contract we share would be voided, and I would be open for a new one with a different Celestial Wizard. But our contract is still strong. She's not dead, just under a spell."
"Then we'll just need to break it," said Erza.
"Speaking of which, why are you still here, Loke?" asked Gray. "I thought you'd go back to the Spirit World by now."
"I thought he said his name was Leo?" muttered Mr. Beaver to his wife.
"A Celestial Spirit's Gate can't be closed without the consent of both the spirit and the wizard, and Lucy isn't in a position to give consent at the moment." He replied sadly. "I'm powerful enough that I could force my Gate closed if I wanted to, but I couldn't just leave without at least trying to save her."
Erza nodded. "We'll be grateful for the help. But won't you being here drain Lucy of her magic?"
Loke nodded back. "I'll switch to using my own magic instead of hers to keep her from getting drained." As he said that his body glowed slightly to show the switch.
"Then lets stop talking and start moving!" shouted Natsu impatiently, grabbing the wagons handle and pulling it towards the door. "Lucy's not going to break herself out of that rock, so let's get moving so we can help her!"
He paused in the doorway, and glanced back at the beavers. "Where is this Aslan guy, anyway?"
The two beavers shook themselves out of their confusion, and hurried forward to lead the way. "At the Stone Table," replied Mr. Beaver. "Word is that that is where Aslan and his company have made their camp. We'll show you the way."
With that the heroes left the castle behind, not knowing that their entire conversation had been overheard by one of the Witch's remaining guards. "Her Majesty will want to know about this," he said, and hurried off to where the Witch had fled.
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Our heroes remained unaware that the Witch would soon be made known of their plans and they headed off into the snowy woodland in the direction the Beavers were leading them too. Each one of them taking turns pulling Lucy's wagon. As they passed near the Beaver's dam Mrs. Beaver stopped and hesitated.
"I suppose we should stop and gather some supplies," she said to the rest of them. "It's an awfully long walk, and will seem even longer without food."
As soon as she said that Happy's stomach growled, reminding him that unlike the other's he hadn't had dinner.
Erza on the other hand shook her head. "No, after what we just did they might be staking out your house in order to trap us. It's too much of a risk to go there now."
Both Beavers looked disappointed at that, worried what the Witch's forces might do to their home.
"Still, she has a point," said Loke. He went over to the wagon and reached for Lucy's keys (the only part of her that didn't turn to stone) and selected Virgo's key. "Virgo, could you come out here a minute?"
With the usual puff of smoke and doorbell the Maiden Spirit appeared. "You called Leo? Why didn't the Princess summon me?" she asked with a bow. She then saw the state of her summoner. As usual her facial expression didn't change, but her body language betrayed her distress. "What has happened to the Princess?"
"She got hit by a spell meant for me," said Natsu, impatient that this was taking so long. "We're heading to meet a guy that'll change her back."
"I asked you to come out in order to gather some supplies," said Loke, bringing Virgo back to for her for being there. "The Beaver's house isn't far from here, but it's likely being watched by our enemies. Could you sneak in and gather the necessary supplies for our journey."
Virgo bowed again. "Of course, anything to help the Princess."
Mrs. Beaver quickly supplied Virgo with directions and a description of her home, as well as a list of things they would need, and where she would find it. Once that was settled Virgo disappeared into the earth to gather the supplies.
"Do all Spirits look like Sons of Adam, or Daughter's of Eve?" asked Mr. Beaver once they stared moving again.
"No," said Loke, "Most have more animal like forms."
"And sometimes Virgo looks like a gorilla," Natsu added.
"Aye."
They hadn't been walking another ten minutes before Virgo reappeared with the supplies packed in sacks for them, and Happy was finally given his dinner. They loaded the sacks into the wagon next to Lucy, using them to keep her in place so she wouldn't slide around on the journey. With one final bow, Virgo returned to the Spirit World.
They continued to travel like that until they came upon a hidden cave that Mr. Beaver knew about and insisted they stop to rest for the night. Natsu and Gray didn't want to stop, but Erza agreed with the beaver and knocked them both out silencing all complaining, as Loke wisely decided not to argue and stood watch for the night.
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By the time Natsu and Gray came too it was early morning. The first thing they noticed was Erza and Loke standing at attention ready to fight, while the Beavers looked worried. The second thing they noticed was outside the cave there was the sound of belles.
Both were up like a shot. "Is it her?" asked Gray softly.
Erza glared at him for making noise, and Loke shrugged in response to his question.
Before anyone could stop him, Natsu rushed out of the cave to confront the enemy, only to falter and fall flat on his face when he saw who it was.
The others who had followed him out also stopped dead in their tracks, and stared in shock.
Standing next to a large sledge drawn by large brown reindeer was none other than Santa Claus himself. When he saw them he gave them all a big smile.
Happy was gaping. "But I thought Lucy said Christmas never happened here?"
Natsu burst from the snow he'd fallen in and shot a triumphant grin at Gray. "Ha, I told you he was real, Ice Idiot! Igneel told me so!"
Gray was too dumbfounded to even respond. Until he saw the state of his own undress, and he hurried to grab his clothes in and attempt to salvage his first impression.
Erza was too speechless to respond to anything.
Loke waved his hand in greeting. "Yo North, been awhile."
Mr. Beaver burst out laughing. "Well this is a nasty knock for the Witch! It looks as if her powers are already crumbling!"
Santa Claus smiled in response. "I've come at last," he said. "She has kept me out for a long time, but I've got in at last. Aslan is on the move. The Witch's magic is weakening."
When Natsu heard that he immediately ran back into the cave to pull out the wagon with Lucy in it, and examined it hopefully. But sadly the girl was still stone.
Santa Claus shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry my boy, but I do not have the magic it takes to reverse this spell. But you are on the right path. Take her to Aslan, and he will be able restore your friend."
He then turned to the rest of them, "And now for your presents. There will be a new and better sewing machine for you, Mrs. Beaver. I will drop it at your house as I pass."
Mrs. Beaver was delighted.
"And as for you, Mr. Beaver, when you get home you will find your dam finished and mended."
Mr. Beaver was equally estatic.
"Erza Scarlet, Eve's Daughter," called Santa.
Erza snapped out of her stupor and hurried forward and gave a polite bow. "It is an honor to meet you."
"The honor is mine," said Santa, reaching into his sack. From within it he pulled out a beautiful sword and sheath, as well as a carved ivory horn. "Though battles are ugly, especially when women fight, I know enough that standing aside for the men is not an option for you. May this sword aid you in the battle to come. And when you put this horn to your lips and blow it, then, wherever you are, help of some kind will come to you. Do not be afraid to ask for it."
Erza took both gifts, and held them delicately as she requiped them away to store them. "Thank you, I will always treasure them.
"Gray Fullbuster, Adam's Son," said Santa.
Gray hurried forward, having found his clothes. Santa handed him a silver and blue shield with a lion on it and a silver chain mail shirt. "While offensive battle skills are key to victory, having a good defense brings a happier outcome. May this shield and mail protect you," he said. Then his face took on a humored smirk. "Not to worry, I made them impervious to your... habit."
Gray turned scarlet and stammered excuses,as he excepted his gifts and stepped away in embarrassment, not noticing he was discarding his shirt as he did so.
"Natsu Dragneel, Adam's Son."
Natsu was in front of him before he even finished speaking, bouncing eagerly in anticipation. Santa laughed at his antics, and handed him a small sack.
Curious, Natsu opened the sack and peered inside. Inside the sack it was full of coal.
Gray, who had looked over his shoulder, burst out laughing. "Looks like you were on the naughty list," he guffawed.
"Aye," agreed Happy.
Natsu, however, started grinning. "Awesome! I bet I can make some tasty flames with these."
The rest of his teammates sweat dropped. "Only he'd think getting coal for Christmas was a good thing," Loke commented.
"Aye."
Santa however gave a deep belly laugh. "That's the idea," he said, "but don't eat it all in one go. The flames produced from that coal are enchanted to give you an exponential boost in energy, and power. Be sure to save it until you truly need it."
Natsu was eyeing the coal hungrily, seeing this Erza snatched the bag from him and requiped it away. "I'll make sure he does," she said over his cry of protest.
Santa laughed again, and handed a pouting Natsu his second gift. Like Gray he was handed a set of chain mail, but unlike Gray's silver mail his was a reddish color, sleeveless, and had a distinct scale like pattern, and smelled hauntingly familiar.
"This chain mail is made from the shed scales of your father, as such it is stronger than steel and impervious to flames," said Santa, causing Natsu to look up in shock. The Dragon Slayer opened his mouth, no doubt to demand where Igneel was, but Santa cut him off. "He is not in this world, and I'm afraid I can not take you to him, but he wishes you well and wants your happiness. He is proud of you, my boy."
Natsu snapped his mouth shut, and hugged the chain mail to his chest like it was a precious treasure. And to him, it no doubt was.
Santa turned to the ice wagon. "Now for Lucy Heartfilia, Eve's Daughter. With her in this state, I can not personally give them to her." He turned to Loke. "That being the case, I will leave them with you until she can except them, my old friend, Leo the Lion."
Loke nodded in understanding. "I'll make sure she gets them, North," he said, while the others had a minor freak out.
"Loke's friends with Santa?" whispered Erza to Gray in surprise. "Well they're both really old," he replied.
"Lion?" asked both beavers.
Santa presented Loke with a vial full of red liquid as well as a bow and quiver of arrows. "In this bottle there is a cordial made of the juice of one of the fire flowers that grow in the mountains of the sun. One drop of its juices can heal any injury. And like the others I doubt she will stand by while others fight for her. Tell her to trust this bow, it does not easily miss."
"Fitting gifts, I will inform her of this when she is revived," said Loke confidently.
Santa then turned to the last member of the group. "And finally the Exceed, Happy."
Happy blinked in surprise. "I get something? But it's my fault Lucy got hurt."
"There is no fault in worrying about friends, the Witch simply didn't deserve your friendship," said Santa, bringing a relived smile to Happy's face. It was the first time he'd smiled since leaving the Witch'e palace.
"That's what we've been telling you," said Natsu in exasperation.
"Aye, but you're not Santa Claus, he knows this stuff," said Happy as he hurried to receive his presents.
Santa chuckled as he handed the Exceed a small dagger and belt. "I doubt even your small size will keep you from defending your friends, I hope this dagger serves you well. Also," he said reaching into his sack and pulling out-
"A Fish!" cried Happy joyfully, as he accepted it. He then wasted no time in scarfing it down. Once he was finished he paused and got a thoughtful look on his face.
"What's wrong?" asked Gray.
"I dunno," Happy replied. "I feel weird. Like all this time I've had a real bad stomachache and didn't even notice, but now it's all gone."
"That is because in during your first meeting with the Witch, you ate her food," said Santa. "That food was filled with bad magic that made you more susceptible to the Witch's manipulation. However, you just consumed the cure." He gave the Exceed a smile. "I am impressed with your loyalty to your friends, most would be the Witch's willing puppet after eating such food."
Happy blushed through his fur.
With his work done, Santa climbed into his sledge and cracked the reigns. "Merry Christmas," he called as he sped away. "Long live the true King!"
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A/N it took me some thinking to come up with the presents for everyone, but I'm satisfied with this. I dropped a Rise of the Guardians reference here, did anyone spot it. Also, I know Gray never made a wagon, but I think he could.
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