Hello everyone! Look I'm actually on time this week...ish. I'd like to thank you all for your patience and support. Just so you know why I went dark for a bit my boyfriend of 8 years left me so I've been a wreck. I gonna get back to my weekly schedule now though! On a happier note I got my own baby Frosch! He's a little calico which apparently is weird because calicoes aren't usually boys. But he's 10 weeks old and a little spitfire and I love him to death. So anyway on with the story!
I do not own Fairy Tail
Rogue POV
Orga had taken off in a flash of black lightening right behind Sting, stating two sets of eyes were better than one while Rogue sat in the floor practically vibrating with stress and impatience. He had pulled Lucy into his lap because she had suddenly gone limp. He held her sideways across his legs with her head tucked under his chin. The most disturbing part was that her eyes remained open and blank. Were it not for fact that he could hear her rapid heartbeat and faint breathing he might think she had died.
Yukino fluttered about, the stress causing her to fidget and straighten the practically bare room. She was talking incessantly as well but Rogue wasn't listening. He paid more attention to the black, mist like substance swirling around the blonde celestial mage. He was afraid of any adverse reactions to really attempt to mess with it. Rogue looked at Rufus, who was perched on the bed now, and wondered...
"Rufus?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you see anything around Lucy?" Rogue thought that surely someone should be able to see the blasted stuff.
"Beyond your hulking, overbearing self?" Was the sarcastic reply.
"This is not the time for your petty grievances, Lore." Rogue snapped. "Do you see anything or not?!"
"No I do not. Sadly all I notice about the poor girl is her desperate need for a manicure." He seemed to study Lucy for a moment. "And a haircut, gods above do you see those split ends? It's just sad really."
"Seriously? Lucy could be dieing and all you care about is your superficial bull shit?"
"Just because you refuse to do any maintenance on herself beyond tossing weights around doesn't mean the rest of us don't."
"Now you listen to me you prissy, puffed up, son of a-"
"OH FOR THE LOVE OF THE SPIRIT KING! JUST SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU!" Yukino was red faced and the rage, fear and stress burned in her eyes. " Lucy is sick. I don't know what kind of sick yet but she's sick and you two acting like brats will not solve anything! You," she pointed at Rufus, "are deliberately antagonizing Rogue. Behave yourself for once in your life. And you," she rounded on Rogue. "You need to calm down. We are all worried about Lucy. You are not special here so chill out." Having successfully silenced both males, Yukino sat in the floor again and held Lucy's lifeless hand.
"Damn it's hot when you do that." Sting and Orga had returned but had apparently stayed in the hall to witness their friends getting chastised by the usually meek girl.
"Don't be a pig, Sting. Did you find the book?" The white haired girl asked as she rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, we got it." Sting handed the book over to the memory make mage but looked behind himself at Orga.
"I think we got it handled here. I know Dobengal and Minerva are downstairs keeping an eye on things but could you give them a hand? It's half off sake in the bar tonight."
Orga laughed. "Yeah and ninja boy has a shit attitude towards drunk customers. I'll take care of it if you're sure you're good?"
It was Rufus who responded. "Yes yes we'll be fine. Our shadow slayer and dear, sweet Yukino are over reacting." I hope.
Orga gave a mock salute and left as quickly as he had appeared.
Rufus poured over the book muttering and flipping back and forth between pages. Rogue's remaining patience began to fade quickly. Only the knowledge that Rufus could help kept him in check.
"Rogue, you said this "shadow" around Lucy responded to you. How so?" Rufus did not look up from from the text while he spoke. He seemed close to answer, at least that's what they all hoped.
"It sort twines itself around me. Like a cat seeking attention."
"Hmm ok then. I need you to place Lucy on her bed." Rufus stood and place the open book on the night stand while Sting approached his partner.
"Here let me help." Rogue practically hissed as Sting reached for Lucy. But Yukino, who was standing right behind him, slapped the back of Rogue's head.
"What did I tell you, you selfish jerk? Now is not the time. Sting has no designs on this woman other than to help her, as do we all, especially since she is joining Sabertooth. Get over yourself."
Rogue flushed and Sting chuckled lightly. Leave it to Yukino to make the situation humorous. And there was no doubt that little, meek Yukino tearing a strip off Rogue, who was arguably one of the strongest members of the guild, was hilarious to all witnesses.
Sting lifted Lucy gently and layed her on the bed. Her eyes were still open and unblinking which honestly had become extremely creepy to Sting. He reached over and closed them telling himself that her eyes must be burning and she would thank him if she could. Rogue watched his adoptive brother like a hawk.
"Rogue go stand just outside the door." Rufus requested. Then as an afterthought he said, "Please."
"Why?" Rogue asked as he complied for the blond mage.
"If I am correct, and I usually am, Lucy has been tainted with residual curse magic." Rufus glanced down at his book again. "Theoretically you should be able to call some of that magic to you, because out of sheer dumb luck, it seems to be fused with her shadow." Rufus gestured at the blonde woman's limp form.
"Ok, so why am I standing back here?" Rogue asked.
"I believe some distance would be best. We don't know how strong this magic has become since latching itself to Lucy. Distance should keep it from trying to take over you as well." As Rufus explained Rogue nodded thoughtfully. Yukino and Sting stood on the other side of the bed and Sting looked mildly distressed.
"I don't like the way you said 'should', Rufus." Sting commented
"Well pretty boy this is the best I've got at the moment. If you have a better idea I'm all ears." Rufus was getting annoyed with everyone questioning his every word.
"What will this do to Lucy?" Yukino asked firmly.
Rufus shook his head slightly. "At best guess we can get her to wake up. Hopefully Rogue can subdue the curse long enough for us to find a permanent solution. For now though we can only pray this will work at all."
"At best guess?! Hopefully?! IT MAY NOT WORK?!" Rogue got steadily louder as he spoke. "Then why the hell are we even trying?! What if it makes her worse?!"
"Enough!" Rufus slammed is hand down on the night stand. "We do not have time for your doubts! Every minute she stays like that one step closer to her being trapped like that forever! Are you an expert on the Ancient Magics?! No? Then shut your damn mouth and do as I've asked or she will die!"
Rage flared in Rogue's eyes but so did fear. He had visibly paled at the memory make wizards words. So instead of arguing further, Rogue reached out with his shadows. He could see the black mist encasing Lucy's body. He got about half way to her before the cursed shadow reacted. It slowly began to reach towards his own shadows, becoming thinner as it stretched. Rogue stopped his advance allowing the curse to come to him. The shadows finally reached his own and he called to them bending them to meld with his own...
All hell broke loose inside his head.
Rogue heard the screams of people he did not know. They begged for help they called to each other and their cries nearly brought him to his knees. Then the vision started
Lucy and Natsu raced down a hallway that seemed to be filling with a strange pink substance. They heard their guild mates calling for help. Suddenly finding themselves surrounded Lucy looked to Natsu only to see him trapped as the substance slowly over came him. The two wizards reached out to one another each calling the others name...
NATSU!"
"LUCY!"
Then the fire dragon slayer was gone absorbed into the tissue of the beast. Lucy fell to the ground, terrified and sobbing.
Rogue realized he had been watching those traumatic moments of the Tartaros War. The vision changed.
Lucy was surfing through a red river while her spirits Loke and Virgo battled beside her. Lucy's clothing was torn and she was tiring quickly. She pulled a key from her belt and summoned Aquarius. They battled a moment more before Lucy began shrieking and Aquarius looked grim. They argued and finally Lucy held up her friends key and summoned the Spirit King. Aquarius' key shattered.
Rogue wrenched himself from the visions and found he was on his knees and he was crying. The other started towards him but he shook his head violently. He then gripped the foreign shadows and pulled as hard as he could. They only stretched though, like taffy. Suddenly a thought came to him. He absorbed as much of the shadows as he dared, for they were still derived of curse magic and so detrimental to him though he cared little for own well being just now. Rogue then looked at Sting.
"Cut the shadows!"
"What?!"
"The shadows! Cut them!"
"I can't see Lucy's shadows moron! How am-"
"Yes I know that! Cut my shadows at the very edge!"
Sting thought it was nuts but with everything going on he didn't argue further. He raced around the bed and severed the shadows with his holy white dragon roar. He kept it controlled though so there was only minimal damages to the room and the one below it. When his attack stopped he looked at Rogue and found him curled up in the fetal position on the floor his hands over his ears. Sting started to go to him but was stopped by Rufus.
"Give him a minute. If he did what I think he did then this idiot actually took on some of Lucy's curse. Hopefully it was only a small portion and he will over power it."
Sting nodded but still looked fearful for the man he called brother. Sure enough though after about five of the longest minutes of his life, Rogue removed his hands from his ears and sat up looking dazed. Sting quickly went to kneel at his side.
"Hey Rogue you ok?" He asked.
Rogue looked at him for a moment then nodded. "Did she wake up?" He slurred. Sting shook his but Yukino piped up.
"Guys look!"
They all turned to look and there was Lucy slowly blinking her eyes. She sat up but quickly layed back down and gripped her head.
"Oohhh head rush. Guys did I get drunk again?" They all laughed with relief as Yukino assured Lucy she had not. Then Yukino relayed the story of what had happened. Lucy looked horrified but nodded quietly as the white haired girl explained that she had broken her promise and told the Slayers and Rufus her traumatic story. After she was finished explaining Yukino looked at Lucy with eyes full of fear and guilt.
"Lucy I'm so sorry." She said again. "I'm a celestial spirit mage and I broke my word!"
Lucy looked at her friend in an understanding, if somewhat resigned manner. "It's ok Yuki. You did what you had to. I probably would have done the same if I thought it would save you."
Rufus, finally bored with all the tears and apologies, cleared his throat. Everyone looked at him, as was his intention.
"While I hate to cut the sentimentality short my ladies, we really need to figure out what's happening to you, Lucy." He glanced back over his book, flipped a page forward then back and looked to the cursed girl once again.
"This is not going to be a pleasant discussion. For that I am sorry but it is necessary so that we might learn more about your condition." Lucy sighed but gestured as if to say "Do what you must".
"May I?" Rufus asked patting a spot next to Lucy on her bed.
"Please," she responded.
So he sat and brought the book into his lap. Then he looked pointedly at the dragon slayers.
"This will be uncomfortable enough you two. I believe Miss Lucy will speak more freely if you aren't here to fawn over her like love struck teenagers."
"Why you-" Rogue started but was cut off.
"Come on bro," Sting said grabbing Rogue's arm and hauling out of the room.
Lucy POV
She watched as the Slayers left and she could have kissed Rufus, though something told her he didn't swing that way. Yes she was aware that she would be forced to tell everyone her nightmares eventually but for now she could continue to hide how broken she truly was especially from Rogue. There are some things you just don't say in front of someone you're still trying to impress.
Yukino had crawled onto the bed and sat facing the two blondes, with her back resting against the foot board. "It's alright if I stay Lucy?" She asked quietly.
Lucy nodded absently for she was more intrigued with Rufus' book. Hand written details of ancient curses covered the aged paper in a dead language Lucy recognized from her studies as a child in her fathers house. Reading it took a little more effort because she had not seen it in quite some time. Rufus, realizing her interest slid the large manuscript over so she would have a better view.
"You can read the ancient tongues?" He asked, thoroughly impressed. Lucy merely nodded and continued to read, slowly as she had to work hard to remember proper translations and conjugations.
"I've been cursed?" She asked rather indignant at the thought.
"Not directly," Rufus replied shaking his head. "I believe that when you suffered such fear and loss during your guilds battle with Tartaros, the curse magic fueling the Cube and powering your opponents left a... well a stain I suppose you could say. In that moment when you were so scared and felt so guilty about your actions some residual curse power latched itself onto your light magic. I'm afraid it has been feeding itself on your nightmares and your losses. It's making you depressed, anxious and over all self-destructive." He looked at her with admiration. "You must have incredible strength to have fought it for so long."
Lucy couldn't believe it. All this time something had been whispering in her ear, making her crazy with loneliness and fear. It had made her believe she was so weak and worthless. To imagine that she wasn't was... not a belief she had held in a very long time.
"Can we fix it? Can I be normal again?!" Can I be happy again? Have friends again? The thoughts raced around her brain.
"Not immediately I'm afraid."
Lucy's happy train crashed head long into a stone wall.
"Not to say that it can't be fixed. Just not right this second." Rufus told her quickly. "I need to do some more research. It shouldn't take more than a few days maybe a week."
"Oh I see." She said rather deflated. But she should have known that such a problem could not be fixed so easily.
Yukino reached out to hold Lucy's hand.
"Don't worry Lucy! We are all right here for you I promise." Yukino smiled brightly. "If you're still feeling up for it we still have a few hours before the stores close. We can do some shopping for your party if you want to."
Lucy looked at her friend and smiled.
"Retail therapy. Works every time, Yuki."
Well now wasn't that a roller coaster? Hope y'all like the chapter! See you later :)