Hello hello! Guess what? I can now write fanfiction on my phone! the FFN app is awesome! ^_^ (also my texting skills with this tiny keyboard are going to increase...)
A/N: Okay so I'm back to writing with the computer since my phone's not really working... -_-
Also thank you to everyone who's reviewed so far because looking through them today encouraged me to get back to writing this chapter. It really made me feel better knowing that so many of you out there liked this story and really wanted more. So, thank you.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. If I did, all that END hype wouldn't have died out like that. I mean seriously, the big reveal and them it's like "Let's just forget this ever happened!"
Ultear could sense the vast amount of magic power nearby, and from the way the rest of her patty stiffened, it wasn't just her either.
"From the faces you're making, I'll assume that you noticed that. Is it from anyone in the other group?" she asked, her voice calm.
The blue haired girl, Levy she recalled, shook her head. "This isn't any magic that I can identify as Fairy Tail's." she said quietly. Gajeel huffed in agreeance.
"We should investigate it quickly then. Nothing good ever comes from ignoring problems when they appear. Let's hurry." Ultear stated in a colder voice, and the small group followed her as she tracked the magical signature.
Darius whipped out a silver key from his set and held it firmly in his grip. It glowed a rusty red colour as he called out as fast as he could:
"Open, Gate of the Red Shield! Scutum!"
With a flash of golden light, a large armoured knight appeared, dressed in full battle attire. The thick, heavy Celestial armour was blood red and the knight carried a shield almost as large as itself on it's arm. The Spirit had a helmet completely covering it's face, and a visor pulled down with small slits where golden eyes stared outwards.
One of the hooded figures reached into their cloak, one of the male ones, and drew a shining sword that glowed with golden light.
"A Celestial weapon?" Darius muttered in shock.
The items were far more than rare; only a handful of wizard had ever even seen one, let alone possessed one. They were priceless items from the Spirit World itself and usually the only way to possess one was to have it given to you by a Spirit or steal it from one, as once it was touched by a mortal it would no longer vanish when the Spirit itself did unless reclaimed and then purified in the Celestial World.
"You should feel honoured that I'm showing you this sword in battle," the person said smugly. "It is the sword of Draco, and as long as I hold this sword, each of my attacks will hit without fail. You should surrender now because you have no hope of success."
Darius growled in challenge.
"I'll never surrender in a fight. I may be a Dark Wizard but I have my own pride to protect."
The mysterious figure seemed to pity him for only a second before he swung the sword of Draco in a slash that left a glowing trail of light behind it. But the attack met with a heavenly chime of metal as two Celestial metals met, the sword and Scutum's shield.
"Scutum is an impenetrable defence. Your attacks may strike, but they'll never hit me, and that is certain." Darius said, before pulling another Spirit Key out, looking a bit tired. Holding two Gates open wasn't a light feat, but he'd had a bit of practise, and once out the gold key made up for it quickly in her power.
Unlinking another key from the ring, he held the shiny gold key out, prepared for the magical drain.
"Open, Gate of the Key Holder! Lucy!"
With another flash, the blond was out as well, looking ready to battle. Scutum blocked another strike with relative ease, and Lucy raced forward and swung her own weapong, the Celestial Key on her keyring, and it let out a pulse of energy that pushed the hooded man back towards his allies.
Scutum and Lucy then got into a defensive position in front of Darius, ready to defend any hit that came at them.
Their opponent seemed to grin wickedly.
"Looks like this will be more fun than I anticipated. Shall we dance then?"
Thanks to Gray's brilliant quick thinking, Erza's group was riding down the mountain side on a giant slide, which although was not warmest, it did get the job done. Within 10 minutes they were at the bottom and rushing toward the growing magical presence.
Erza signalled them to halt as they arrived at the edge of a clearing. She walked forwards slowly, glancing between the branches of the clusters of trees to see what was going on.
Four hooded figures stood to the side silently while a fifth was in battle with a knight in red armour and a girl with blond hair while another person, a man, stood behind the duellists.
Lucy! That's Lucy! Erza though, her eyes fixated on the blond girl as she attacked the hooded person with glowing light.
Turning back to her group, she nodded at them to come closer. They all took in the same sight Erza did, and Erza herself had to cover Natsu's mouth when he recognized his partner. Jellal looked at the red haired wizard.
"You have a plan?" his lips mouthed. She nodded, and a sword of her own Requiped into her hand. Then, with reflexes faster than any other, she jumped out of the trees and intercepted the attack of the cloaked person's sword, before expertly twisting her own weapon to force him to drop the blade.
Taking this as their cue, Natsu and Gray jumped out and got into a battle stance, while Yukino and Jellal came out of the shadows much calmer.
The other four figures didn't move at all, only staring down the wizards as everyone was in a deadlock.
Until the fifth person decided to speak.
"So the Fairies have arrived with a Tiger and a fugitive in tow? Interesting." he said, eyes looking at their guild marks. When he attempted to pick up his weapon, Erza's blade shifted to his throat while her foot stepped on the sword and slide it backwards towards her allies, where Jellal picked it up.
The mystery person scowled.
"How dare you lay your hands on my sword. Release it now and I may not spill your blood with it." he said, the threatening undertone sending shivers through them all, but Jellal held tight to the sword.
"I suggest you leave now before you invoke our wrath." the Heavenly Body user said in his most dangerous voice.
Before the sword user could reply, one of the others behind him grabbed his shoulder.
"We will be back, Fairy Tail." the other person, a woman, said quietly.
Then, in unison, they vanished.
"You people are from Fairy Tail?" the man behind the red knight asked suddenly, looking like he was ready to flee.
"We are. And you're a Celestial Wizard right?" Gray said cooly. Natsu's attention was on the man as well, but focused more on the two keys held in either hand, one silver and one gold.
"You stole Lucy's key from the guild hall, didn't you. You're the one! Darius!" Natsu said, his fists alighting in flames. Gray was much calmer, but the air dropped a couple of degrees. Erza, Jellal and Yukino were watching now too, prepared to fight.
Darius scoffed.
"Finders keepers, Pinky. I just took advantage of that Celestial Wizard of your's death to collect some new units. It's unfortunate I only got one, but that Spirt is powerful and a better weapon than my other Spirits anyway." he said. Natsu growled, his canines showing.
"Give Lucy's key back. It belongs with us at the guild, not with a jerk like you!" he shouted.
Darius laughed.
"Like I'd give you one of my keys."
He waved his hand towards Lucy, who looked at him patiently. No, she was waiting for orders.
"Take out as many of these wizards as you can. Don't hold back anything." he said coldly, and Lucy nodded, her eyes not even questioning it.
"Lucy, it's us. Don't listen to him!" Yukino said, watching as the key in Lucy's hand began to glow brightly.
"That's what she used to attack me at that guild hall," Jellal said to Erza, who's head moved slightly to show her acknowledgement.
Her arm swiped at Gray and released a pulse of energy, and as the Ice Mage put up a quick ice shield to defend, it lasted just long enough before shattering.
"Lucy!" Natsu shouted. "What are you doing?"
But the blond's eyes only narrowed as her key began glowing brighter, a bright white with hints of Celestial gold. She jabbed it towards Natsu with a yell.
"STAR STRIKE!"
A beam of gold light shot out at the Dragon Slayer, and Natsu dived to the ground to avoid it. The attack hit a tree behind him and snapped it in half like a toothpick. She'd grown in power since before, practising her magical powers.
Erza, not seeing much of a choice, leapt into the battle and used her sword to deflect Lucy's key from hitting her. The pulses it released made the air tingle with Spirit energy.
"Lucy, why are you attacking your guild mates like this? We are nakama!" Erza said, blocking another hit.
Lucy looked at her with a frown.
"I don't understand what you are talking about, but I must protect my master from harm. It's my duty as a Celestial Spirit to fight to the best of my abilities and I cannot lose this battle."
Erza looked confused.
"Your master? He stole your key from us! Your friends!" she said, her voice unwavering. Lucy backed up, looking angered.
"I don't have friends. I thought Leo was my friend, but his views did not match mine. He has forgotten that we as Spirits are meant to be used by our key holders as tools in battle, not friends." she spat the word out bitterly.
"My only goal now is to defeat you all."
And that's a wrap for now! Honestly this plot is growing a bit bigger than planned from the start. I don't even know what I was thinking with those mysterious people! But I've got a plan, although it extends my story a bit more than originally thought. XD
Anyway, I'll see if I can pop another chapter out soon. I'm doing some volunteer work this week so I'll be busy, but we'll see! ;-)
~ Ty8 ^_^