Yaaaa~y!
Another chapter finally done! You might kill me because of this chapter but.. *sniff* I have to do this!
Gaaah! Can't talk anymore.. And thanks for those who favorited, alerted, and especially those who reviewed! Even to those silent readers. Thanks a bunch! XD
Should I say.. enjoy?
Disclaimer: I do not and would not (*bitter*) own Fairy Tail!
Chapter 9: Into the New World
Wendy was sure she could track Levy and Gajeel what with her extra ordinary sense of smell can do. Even with her small frame, she knows she can do something and help her guild mates in some way. When she first arrived at the clinic, she ran wildly to the door when she smelled panic and tension in the air. That was when she learned about Renge's disappearance. She had seen the worried yet anxious look on Levy's face and witnessed Gajeel's constant low growl at how Levy was acting. Wendy watched as Gajeel grabbed Levy by the wrist and told her they needed to hurry if they want to catch up with Renge. Not that she could move any further, he added. It's just what Levy was worrying. The missing girl is still seriously injured and she needs serious medical attention. Going up and about is not a very wise idea for her. So, seeing the immediate actions of her older friends, Wendy instantly volunteered to tell Mirajane and the others in the guild about the current situation. Levy thanked and smiled gratefully to her before she was dragged out of sight.
When she told Mirajane and the others, Mirajane, even with a clear worry etched on her beautiful face, consoled her that it would be alright since Gajeel and Levy are dependable enough to take action. However, there's some feeling in her gut that tells her she was needed there even though she doesn't know where 'there' is. Probably, it was just her desire to help.
But right now as she's in the sky with Charle carrying her, it's been about thirty minutes before she secretly went out of the guild and she still can't find Gajeel or Levy's scent. Charle had tried to stop her from sneaking out but Wendy, as stubborn as she is, just continued her plan with Charle following her clearly defeated.
But no, she can't lose hope. If there's one thing she learned about the Fairy Tail Guild, it was to never lose hope. Even in battles, despite the painfully obvious fact that the odds are against them, still Natsu and the others are willing to fight until the end. Besides, this is for Lucy whom Wendy considers as an older sister.
"I told you, Wendy, this is futile," Charle said behind her. "I mean why do you have to go there? It's dangerous, Wendy, and you know that! Let the adults handle it."
The exceed has always been like a mother to her, scolding her every time she does something reckless or advising her on what to do. Wendy knew she's just as worried as her for their guild mates but yet Charle's more worried for her.
Before she could respond however, Wendy caught a faint smell of blood and her eyes widened. Renge's been injured, right? Then she voiced this out to Charle. "Charle," she started, not minding that she would be earned another round of scolding upon ignoring Charle's worries. "I think I found them."
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"
Every one's eyes turned to the source of the voice and found a brown haired woman looking hysterical at Natsu. "You've just killed her!"
Natsu then looked at the girl in his arms and felt that indeed her breathing was becoming shallow. No, that can't be..
"But I just saved her!" Natsu said defiantly unconsciously tightening his grip on Lucy. "I just saved her from that bastard."
Gray squinted at the figure of the brown haired frantic girl with three other figures on her side. Gajeel, Lily and Levy are apparently there yet he doesn't know why. And this girl.. she was the one they saved, right?
"Those strings connect to the soul of the one being controlled. If you cut those strings, it was like cutting her life from her!"
WHAT? Gray looked like his eyes are about to bulge out of his sockets. This can't be happening, he thought. Natsu did just that, so does it mean… No, Lucy's not dead. She can't be.
"You're lying!"
A loud laugh suddenly rang out of the room, breaking the thoughts of every person inside. He then smirked bitterly and looked back at Natsu with accusing eyes. "Renge's right. You just killed your girl friend, moron."
"Kei.."
"Why you-" If not for him holding Lucy, Natsu would have punched Kei over and over again and make him feel the pain of what he caused to all of them.
"Ah, Renge, I see you're still alive. I thought I killed you," Kei mused giving the said a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. "Tough weed, you are. But if you came here to make me see that you're still strong, then you're wrong. I still see you as a weakling. Like these Fairies are. Maybe you could join them, it's just fitting." He smiled at the hurt look on the girl's eyes. "That is if you're still alive."
"Oi, stupid puppeteer," Natsu glared at Kei. "She's your comrade, isn't she? Then why did you try to kill her?"
Kei smirked, "It's none of your business."
"OI FLAME BRAIN, YOU DOLT!"
Natsu angrily spun around towards the slumped yet angry form of Gray. He was glaring daggers at him and Natsu could have sworn Gray's eyes had a malicious glint on them, like he could kill anyone near his vicinity. "How long are you gonna let Lucy like that without medical attention? Get out of here and take her to Porlyusica, dimwit!"
"Like I'm gonna let you," Kei growled and extended his left arm his palm facing towards Natsu's direction and from which his nasty looking chains came sprouting and aiming towards Natsu. There was a loud clang like two metals hit each other.
"Go, Natsu! I'll handle him!" Erza yelled as she sliced the chains with her sword in a swift yet powerful motion. She was in between Kei and Natsu starting to deflect the metal chains that was trying to hit Natsu.
Natsu looked at Erza's back unconsciously letting out a low growl. He is itching for a good fight and punching and kicking him are just two of the best ideas he could ever come up with. Yet he has something more important to do. He has to save Lucy no matter what.
"Fire!"
Natsu looked up to see Levy raising her magical pen and the words 'fire' spelled out before her and went straight to Kei enveloping him with flames. "Natsu, here's your chance to escape!"
"No, you won't!" Kei screamed again and this time, he was enveloped again with that dark magical aura and to Natsu, Happy, Erza and Gray's surprise, it became huge—larger than the previous one. His eyes became a mixture of red and dark slits and his face broke into a devious grin as he said, "I won't go easy on you now!"
Kei's growl in his monster form send tremor in the room. Gajeel immediately wrapped his arms around Levy's waist and jumped away from falling debris that had almost hit Levy had he not grabbed her in time. "Wh-What the hell is that?" Levy said after Gajeel had carefully landed her. She watched as each of the person in the room dodged from the falling rubble.
"Stop this madness, Kei!" Renge screamed. She was clutching her wound on her stomach and Erza was helping her stand. "Do you think Chiharu would agree with this? Let them go!"
Kei seemed to stiffen at the mention of the name and then slowly, his face contorted looking like his madder than before. "No," he said, his voice more dangerous. He then flexed his fingers towards the still struggling Natsu. "If I won't be getting what I want, then I'll make sure that everyone in this room won't get happiness either."
At that, four metal chains emerged from the ground around Natsu and Lucy. The chains rose up and their ends met, arching a few feet at the top of Natsu's head. Horizontal chains then wrapped around the four metal chains, trapping them like two birds in a cage.
"Natsu!"
"Lucy!"
"Lu-chan!"
"You, bastard! Get us out of here!" Natsu yelled almost panicking. He still has a firm grip on Lucy and was hoping to all holy ones that she's strong enough to hold on.
"Let them go!" Erza bellowed at Kei, re-quipping to her Black Wing armor as she dashed towards him holding tight to her sword. She attacked him with fast and multiple hits but Kei dodged them all in time. Levy ran towards them as she wrote 'lightning' on the air, hitting Kei powerfully. He was taken aback but he did not back down. Instead, a wild grin crept on his face, looking like he enjoyed that Levy joined in the fight.
"Dammit, Levy!" Gajeel roared but with the noise that the battle was causing, his roar was drowned.
"No, Gajeel!" Levy yelled back surprising the about-to-charge metal dragon slayer. "You help Natsu and Lu-chan!" She added with such strong conviction that Gajeel huffed and approached his caged guild mates. He then smirked at the situation. Metal won't work on him, he thought. That man has just given him a treat. But just when he touched the metal cage preparing himself for his food, he immediately withdrew his hand and stared at the metal. "This ain't ordinary metal. It has some weird dark magic around it."
"Of course, he's a dark mage!" Natsu said already pissed at how Gajeel is taking time to release them.
"Shut up," Gajeel snapped back. "This is gotta be harder than what I thought. I can't eat this metal." He 'tch'ed, turning sour that the treat he's expecting for is out of his hands.
As Natsu watched Gajeel working on the cage, he felt Lucy stirred on his arms. He looked at her and was greeted by a weak smile. Even the smile is weak, it still made him happy and relieved to see that smile once again. "N-Natsu.."
"Lucy, hang in there!"
Even with her weak state, Lucy winced like she was pissed at him but her smile betrayed her. She weakly chuckled, "D-Don't yell at me, idiot." Her voice was so weak that Natsu was sure no one from her comrades could hear her except him and Gajeel.
"I promise, Lucy, I'll get you out of here." There was an edge of panic in his voice that was seldom heard from the infamous Salamander that Lucy chuckled.
"It's not everyday..you can see the..G-Great Salamander..panic like this," Lucy struggled to speak yet there was a faint smile on her lips.
Natsu felt a weird sting somewhere on his chest. That weird and uncomfortable feeling again. "Just..just don't die on me, okay? You hear me?"
She struggled to reach raise her right hand and pulled Natsu's left ear, still grinning. "Heh.. don't be so full of it, Natsu. I'm not..gonna die." In her healthy state, this would have been really painful for Natsu that he had to howl at Lucy's pinching, but now, she just merely pulled his ear with a strength like that of an infant.
"Lucy.." He put his hand over her hand that was pinching his ear.
"Oi, bunny girl! I don't think you should really talk right now!" Gajeel said at them, still working on the cage. "Save your lovey-dovey acts for later."
"Shut..up, Gajeel.."
"Focus on your work, metal face!" Natsu yelled at him, his face red for an unknown reason.
"Geh! Don't tell me what to do or I'll never get you out of here!"
"Why, you-"
"Ahhhhhhh!"
Natsu looked ahead to see Levy thrown off and hit the nearest wall.
"Levy!" Erza called to her guild mate. But she was cut in when a much larger metal chain wrapped around her waist and threw her back to wall opposite Levy.
"Dammit!" Gajeel cursed and was about to come to Levy's aid.
"No, Gajeel, I'm fine!" Levy yelled back with a wincing face. "Just get Lu-chan out of here!"
Kei threw his head back and cackled a laugh. "Two love birds inside a cage. How sweet. And you think you can protect these love birds? How pathetic," he mocked as two large metal chains emerged from his magic circle on his left and right about to pounce on Levy and Erza.
"Levy!"
"Erza!"
"Ice make: Blade!"
Two equally large blades came hurtling towards the metal chains, cutting both into halves. Still holding her breath, Erza looked at the direction where the blades came from and saw Gray with outstretched hands, barely standing. "Gray.." she whispered. She knew he was already at his limit and it still amazed her how he still managed to save their necks even with his state. His side where the poisoned metal chain had hit him looked worse than before and Erza knew he needed medical attention as much as Lucy.
"Oh, so you still manage to release that amount of power?" Kei mused.
"You..can't win against..us!" Gray struggled. He knelt down, his weight suddenly becoming heavier for him to stay on his feet.
"Try saying that when you can stand on your two feet," Kei said. A large amount of dark force started to gather above him as if he was concentrating his force and is aiming to hit it directly on the coughing and kneeling Gray. "Disappear!"
"NO, STOP IT!"
For the second time, there was another figure standing by the door cutting Kei from what he was about to do. There were tears streaming from her eyes and her long blue hair is whipping on the wind, a white flying cat just above her head. "Stop it, please! Don't hurt my friends anymore!"
"…"
Renge gasped. "Ch-Chiharu.."
Kei became stolid like time stopped for him. Chiharu? How can it be possible.. He saw it with his own two eyes. She fell off the cliff that time, he heard the screams. Those screams that haunt him until now and would be haunting him for the rest of his damned life….. Wait. "How dare you mock the image of my sister!" He growled and started to charge forward the trembling Wendy.
"Wendy! Run!" Natsu yelled inside the cage.
Gajeel grasp the cage tightly. "Shit!"
"Wendy, get out of here! That guy's dangerous!"
Arriving in front of Wendy, he glared at her looking so tall and dangerous. Wendy can't help but whimper in fear but she knew she can do something to help everyone and this is her chance. She was surprised however when the man in front of her spoke. "I will not forgive you."
Instantly, Charle flew in front of Wendy, shielding her from the man. "Don't you lay a finger on Wendy, you despicable man!"
Kei, with a flick of his wrist, sent Charle away, the latter flying away from them.
"Charle!" Wendy cried.
"Charle!" Happy flew towards her side. "Charle, are you okay?"
Kei then raised his right hand, aiming for Wendy's heart, as a magic circle glowed in front of his right palm. "Begone."
"Wendy!"
Wendy closed her eyes shut forcefully and extended her hands on her sides. She has to do it, no matter what the cost is. She yelled, "Arms! Armor! Vernier!"
Before the chains could fully emerge from the magic circle, Kei flew to the side and crashed against the wall. He barely had time to register what had just happened and before he could raise his head, he felt someone lifted him up and threw him a simultaneous punch and kick leaving him more disoriented. He never felt some one as strong as this before.
"How dare you tried to hurt someone smaller than you."
Kei forced his eyes to open to see two angered dragon slayers glaring down at him. Still with that defiant look despite his wincing expression, he stood up and was about to attack when suddenly—
"Water!"
"Re-quip! Lightning!"
A sudden sharp of water and lightning combined hit him with such force that he was thrown off backward. As he was dragged to the ground, he heard someone screaming his name yet he can't even look back to see as his eyes are blinded with white light from the lightning and from the pain that's searing in his body.
Oh yes, he's gonna die in here. In the hands of the comrades of the one he had taken by force.. It's amazing at how these people would go to any lengths to protect their comrade. If only he's as strong as them at that unfateful time, then this would not have happened. Chiharu would have been alive. Heck, she probably has a boyfriend or two since she's so sweet and pretty. He can imagine it already. No one can resist her charm. But he won't allow it. Like the big brother he is, he would protect her from guys who try to hit on her. But.. she was taken at such a young age. And he didn't had any strength to protect her. He's so weak.
He's going to hell, he thought. What with all the sins he's committed, the gates of heaven are surely closed for him. There's no other place for him but hell. He can't see Chiharu anymore. The time she fell off the cliff was the last time he'd ever see her. Why would everything have to end up like this?
He felt his head bump the wall and he stopped.
"Kei!"
Looking up with his half-closed eyes, he saw Renge running towards him tears on her eyes. Ah, Renge. How could he ever hurt her? She was the woman he wanted to protect next to Chiharu. Yet he destroyed her life. He's such a despicable man, as what the cat of the blue-haired girl referred to him.
He looked at the blue-haired girl who was behind the Salamander. Her brown sincere eyes are looking at him with compassion. Just like Chiharu's. How could he have tried to harm her? He's completely changed. He's so damned that he might have overthrown the ruler of hell in his throne.
"Nii-chan.."
Kei's eyes shot open when he heard the voice in his head. Am I imagining things?
"Nii-chan, it's not too late. Don't give up."
"Chi..haru.."
"We can never bring back what's been lost, Nii-chan. But please remember, we can always make up for almost everything."
Tears started to well his eyes. "Chiharu..I'm sorry."
"Please live, Nii-chan. For me…"
He unconsciously raised his hand and grazed Renge's cheek with the back of his hand, "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Kei, please…"
Before he could close his eyes, he smiled gently at her. And as he fell in the darkness, he heard her scream his name.
Natsu watched as Kei, slumped against a wall completely beaten, close his eyes and went limp.
"Kei! KEIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"
"Renge-chan…" Levy whispered.
At that, Natsu blinked several times as if coming out of his reverie. Lucy! He thought. He turned back and went to Lucy's side who was beside the kneeling Gray. She was still lying on the floor, barely opening her eyes. He scooped her up from the floor, "Lucy.."
"Did..you win?" Her voice was hoarse and weak.
"We won," Natsu replied allowing a grin to appear.
She smiled gently, "Good." Then her smile slowly disappeared as her eyes started to close.
"Lucy?" Slowly, she became limp on Natsu's arms. "Oi, Lucy.. Wake up. Lucy?"
Still, no response.
"Lucy?" He pulled her close and his eyes became wide. No, this is not happening, he thought. This is insane. He looked again at her, her eyes fully closed. "Ne, Lucy, don't fool around. It's not funny anymore." He looked horrified as he cupped Lucy's cheek. He can't believe it. This can't be happening.
Lucy stopped breathing.
To die, or not to die? Hmm..
I'm just so cruel, don't you think? Nah just joking..
Do you hate it? Please let me know..
AAAND! I'm sorry this chapter is kinda short. But i hope you still like it.
XD