Chapter nine already!? My-oh-my how did we get here already? Once I hit ten, I'll reward you guys with a big reveal or something exciting. We'll see...as always, read and review!Rhys
X--x--X
Chapter Nine: Explosive Introductions
The day was winding down to a close and most of the guild members had either disappeared to their homes or gone off on jobs. Our heroes from Team Natsu were just now returning to Magnolia. Lucy, Mirajane, and Master Makarov were awaiting their arrival in a quiet corner of the guild hall. Julia was sprawled out on the floor nearby, happily drawing more pictures. She had recently had dinner and was now filling the time until Lucy took her home for bed.
"Hey Gramps!" Natsu yelled as they burst into the guild hall. "We're back!"
Lucy sighed and rolled her eyes. "Its about time!"
Julia had jumped up, startled by the noisy entry and dashed to Mirajane. She climbed into her lap and clutched at her neck. Mirajane comforted the girl as the others joined them.
"I hope you have learned something," said Makarov. "We could use some good news."
"I'm afraid we hit nothing but dead ends Master," Erza replied. "Hibiki of the Blue Pegasus guild wasn't of much help unfortunately. We were only able to learn about what magic Rowan used. What you? Did the girl tell you anything?"
Erza glanced at Julia who was shyly peeking at her. She smiled, causing the little girl to hide her face in Mirajane's hair.
"She did in a way," Mirajane answered. "Julia drew us some pictures and we think they have some sort of meaning."
"Hey there," said Natsu kneeling down next to Mirajane and Julia. "Don't be scared, we're the good guys! We helped find you. I'm glad to see you're doing better!"
Julia turned to peek at him, studying the pink haired man before her. A small smile crept onto her face before she hid it again.
"Don't be shy," Lucy coaxed. "These are our friends. They won't hurt you."
Julia glanced over at Lucy, then at Erza before she leapt into Lucy's lap. She snuggled into Lucy's embrace, keeping her face half turned so as to watch the others. Makarov laid the drawings out on the table. Erza looked over them carefully.
"I take it you haven't tried questioning her?" Erza asked.
"No--
Erza held up a hand, interrupting Mirajane. "Then I guess I will have to."
"Now wait a minute Erza," Lucy began, but she was quickly silenced.
"We are running out of options," Erza retorted. "If we want answers we have to do this. Master, please..."
Makarov grumbled quietly before sighing. "Erza is right. If we ever hope to solve this mystery, we're going to have to question the girl."
"But Master!-- Makarov held up a hand silencing Lucy and Mirajane.
"I know this may seem cruel," he explained. "But if we don't find answers we won't be able to help young Julia. This must be done."
Lucy sat silently for a moment. "Fine, but before we do this, I feel like we should tell them about Julia's condition..."
"Condition?" Gray repeated.
Lucy nodded. "Julia is afraid of magic."
The others became surprised. Natsu was the first to speak up.
"What!?" he cried out. "That's ridiculous! No one should be scared of magic!"
"Well, she is," Lucy affirmed. "So don't scare her."
"Nonsense!" Natsu declared. "I'll show her magic isn't scary; here check this out Julia!"
Before anyone could stop him, Natsu began spelling fiery words in the air with his magic. Julia's reaction was immediate as she recoiled in horror. Her body began trembling as she buried herself in Lucy's embrace.
"Natsu stop!" Lucy cried. "I told you already!--
But Natsu wasn't listening. "Look Julia, I can make pictures too!"
In spite of his efforts, Julia began sobbing hysterically as the others tried to get Natsu under control.
"You moron, knock it off!" Gray yelled. "You're not helping!"
He clocked Natsu's head, making the fire demonstration stop. The action however, caused Natsu to growl at Gray.
"Hey, why'd you hit me!?" he growled. "Don't make me roast your frosty butt!"
"Get real!" Gray countered. "Your stupid idea isn't working; can't you see her crying?"
"That's probably because you're down to your underwear again, you freak!"
Gray had indeed, stripped down, but now the two had begun arguing loudly. Erza was trying to end the squabble with loud instructions. Julia was still sobbing as everyone began trying to diffuse the situation with the only result being more escalation. Lucy and Mirajane exchanged worried glances as Makarov finally got involved. In a flash, his giant fist had squashed the squabbling wizards, effectively silencing them all.
But then it happened.
Each on of them sensed it just seconds before it happened.
Julia's magic had suddenly expanded and was going crazy. Chairs, tables, and other objects began rising in the air before swirling into a vortex of growing energy. Lucy held tight to Julia as they were at the center of it. The others jumped back, shielding their faces as the vortex grew.
"Oh no!" Mirajane cried. "Lucy, Julia!"
She tried to force her way through the vortex, but never made it. She yelped as a chair clipped her shoulder and spun her to her knees. Gray grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Mirajane held her shoulder, wincing, but nodded. "I'm fine. We have to calm her down!"
She got back to her feet and watched as the vortex intensified. The objects caught in it were beginning to break apart. They could see Lucy clinging to Julia, trying to protect her from the debris. Cuts and scrapes were appearing on her skin from being hit.
"How do we stop her!?" Erza yelled.
"We have to calm her down!" Mirajane yelled back. "But if we can't get to her, I don't know how we will!"
The vortex was changing colors; a rainbow of magical energy swirled faster and faster. They could hear Lucy crying out with every hit she took.
"You have to try talking to her!" Mirajane yelled. "Hurry Lucy or this is going to tear everything apart--including you!"
Lucy glanced up at her friends and then looked down at Julia. The girl was radiating magical energy in such intensity. She was still in hysterics. Lucy winced as something collided with her back.
"Julia, you have to snap out of it!" she yelled. "Please Julia, please calm down!"
Her yelling caught Julia's attention, but didn't have the effect she was hoping for. Instead, Julia wailed louder changing the flow of the vortex. It shrunk and focused itself around the girl in an attempt to propel Lucy away from her. It didn't take long before she was swept up into it and expelled out into the arms of Natsu.
Natsu cursed as he set Lucy down and looked at Julia. "I really hate to do this..."
Before he could act, Erza appeared in a flash and requipped to a more protective armor. She plunged into the vortex and with a swift chop, knocked Julia unconscious. All at once, everything stopped and the debris fell to the floor. Mirajane and Lucy were the first to reach the girl while the others surveyed the damage.
"I think its safe to say we figured out what destroyed the city," said Erza grimly. She bent over to pick up a paper that had settled by her feet. "And now we know what this means..."
They all looked at the paper she held. It was one of Julia's drawings. It showed a small girl in the center of a vortex that seemed to be destroying the buildings around it.
Lucy cradled the unconscious girl with a sad look on her face. "Oh no...poor Julia..."
"We have to figure out what Rowan did to her," said Mirajane, holding her injured shoulder.
"Are you okay Lucy?" Natsu asked, resting a hand on her shoulder. She nodded, tears running down her race. She covered in small injuries thanks to the vortex.
"I'm fine," she whispered. "We have to help her...we just have to."
The look on her face didn't sit well with Natsu. He could tell this girl had made quite an impression on his friend and in that moment, he felt what she did.
They had to help Julia; at all costs they just had to.
X--x--X
Well here we go guys! The mystery is somewhat revealed! Poor Julia destroyed her own hometown, but what made her do it? Guess you'll have to find out later!! Read and review as always!!
Rhys