Ophichuis
And the Cracks Begin to Show
Black. That was all Lucy saw, a sea of black. She couldn't make out top from bottom and only barely managed to process she was able to stand in the empty void. Her mind felt numb and dull, as if it wasn't completely her own at the moment. But the fog in her mind was rapidly lifting and cleared completely when a voice cried out to her.
"Lucy dear. What are you doing here?" a warm voice chided from the black expanse.
Lucy felt as if she had been placed on a swivel as she forcefully spun on her heel, searching out its owner. The voice was hauntingly familiar.
"Momma?" Lucy prosed to the abyss, a hopeful twinge in her tone. Wildly, she whipped her head back and forth, seeking out the one person she never thought she'd see again lest it be in her dreams. But such nighttime visions were few and far between and more often than not, were simple echoes of old memories, never differentiating from the events of the past. They were no different than a recording placed on continuous loop…except this one.
"I'm right here darling," the voice cooed from behind her. Lucy snapped her head back, her body following after, finding herself in an old, familiar space. Rather than the dark void that she had been in, she saw the old Heartphilia study, complete with the high standing windows and rows upon rows of books that Lucy had once thought never ended. However, all of those details were forgotten or unnoticed as lost herself in the chocolate eyes boring into her.
"Lucy," Layla smiled gently, drawing her arms wide to welcome the younger blonde into her embrace.
"Momma!" Lucy cried, her mind reeling far too much to realize her legs had begun to move on their own and rush towards her mother. With a final push, Lucy launched herself from the ground and into her mother's arms. The embrace was just as warm and comforting as she remembered it. The soft, silk fabric of her mother's dress caressed her cheek as she snuggled closer to her mother, never wanting to let go.
"My goodness. Lucy, you sure seem affectionate today," her mother giggled at the younger's antics, running a hand through her daughter's golden tresses.
"I've missed you is all," Lucy answered, her voice muffled by her mother's dress.
"I've missed you as well, my little Lucy. Always- I've always wanted to come back to you," Layla choked, emotions rife through her voice.
"Come back? Where have you been?" the child asked, loosening the embrace to look up at her mother.
"I've been trapped. Here, on Mt. Suh Cuihpo."
"What?"
"Yes, the night I left you I went on a mission. I'm sorry Lucy. I'm so sorry. I wasn't strong enough and-" the older woman paused as her chest began to heave in silent sobs.
"All this time…" Lucy mumbled, looking away from her mother's face either to spare the elder from having to have someone watch them as they cried or so that she herself wouldn't have to see her mother broken down in such despair.
"I'm sorry Lucy. I'm so sorry."
Lucy looked up at her mother, her cheeks glistening with tears. The blonde could feel her heart swell at how desperate and pitiful her mother looked. Layla was craving her daughter's approval and forgiveness and Lucy could sense that a false word or misstep would plunge the older woman into an incorrigible heartache.
"Mom, it's ok," Lucy hushed, barely noticing the roles between mother and daughter switching so that she was the one providing warmth and comfort. "I can save you. I will save you. My friends and I, we're here for that reason. To save everyone, so please don't cry."
"L-Lucy, my brave little girl," Layla cried, engulfing her child in a hug once more.
"It's going to be alright. Don't cry," Lucy cooed, coddling her mother closer, "I've joined an amazing guild called Fairy Tail and with the help of my friends, there isn't anything I can't do."
"Yes, Lucy," Layla answered, her voice gaining strength and conviction, "I'll be waiting for you my precious little girl. My prison is on the top floor. I'm sorry darling, but I don't have much magic left to maintain this connection. I've got to go, so just promise me to be careful." Layla pulled away from her daughter so she could cup the delicate heart shaped face and stare into her daughter's matching russet eyes.
"I promise," Lucy answered, pushing herself out of her mother's loving hold.
"Goodbye Lucy," Layla whispered as their surroundings began to distort and meld into a dark nothingness.
"Wait! Momma!" Lucy cried out into the abyss, her voice drowned out in the vast consuming blackness. "Mommy!" she repeated, a sense of fear taking root within her as the darkness seemed to close around her. "Momma!"
"Lucy! Wake up!"
"EEEP!" The blonde started from her sleep, fists flying in front of her. Her fight-or-flight response had been activated after being roused so suddenly but the reaction just as quickly ebbed away when her knuckles struck something that felt akin to a brick wall.
"OWWW!" the two voices cried out in unison, Lucy nursing her now throbbing hand and Natsu his nose.
"What the hell did I do to deserve that?!" Natsu hollered in a nasally voice. His hands held pressure against his nose in attempt to stifle any bleeding the attack may have instigated but the gesture had the unfortunate, albeit mildly humorous, side-effect of altering the dragon-slayer's typically low and masculine voice to sound like a congested comic book nerd with asthma. Lucy fought back the laugh her imagination inspired after conjuring up an image of Natsu garbed in high-waist pants, complete with suspenders, a white, long-sleeved button down shirt, a bow tie, and ridiculous glasses, but the pain in her knuckles greatly outweighed any amusement she had derived from the notion.
"You broke my hand, for one!" Lucy shot back, glaring at Natsu.
"You broke it on my face!"
"Yeah, and it's an improvement if you ask me," Gray interjected, poking fun at the dragon-slayer's swelling nose.
"Oh yeah? How about I give you a matching welt?" Natsu roared, lunging at Gray resulting in the ensuing brawl.
"What are they doing?" a small voice asked, startling Lucy. The celestial mage had been sufficiently distracted by her teammates' tussle, thus causing her to fail to notice the short child's appearance.
"Being idiots," she commented dryly.
"Should we stop them?"
"No, let's just wait for-"
"NATSU! GRAY!" a shrill voice cried out.
"Erza," Lucy finished, a tired sigh working its way to her lips despite the fact that she had just woken up.
Both men blanched at the stern voice, their actions slowing to a halt.
"What's going on here?"
"N-Nothing, Erza," Natsu stuttered, smiling nervously.
"Y-Yeah, nothing. What he said." Gray followed, a nervous laugh dancing at the tip of his throat.
"It looked as if you two were fighting again," Erza retorted coolly, eyeing both mages down.
"N-N-Nah. Of course not, Erza."
"We-we we're just having a friendly brawl," Gray answered.
"Y-Yeah. Nothing sews the seeds of friendship like a few good cuts and bruises!" Natsu added, throwing a fake punch at Gray's arm, albeit judging from Gray's facial reaction, the hit was harder than necessary.
"Hmmm, I suppose you're right," Erza nodded, a small, content smile on adorning her features. "Spilling blood with comrades does strengthen one's bonds."
Natsu and Gray sighed in relief, believing they had narrowly avoided having their heads cracked together.
"Suppose, then, that I join you and we may grow strong together," Erza smiled wickedly, exquipping to her battle armor.
"W-Wha- Ah no! Erza!" both mages cried out in unison but were struck regardless their protests until both lay battered and bruised on the floor.
"Lucy? Would you care to strengthen your bonds with us?" Erza asked politely, disregarding that she was now aiming a blade at her best friend.
The blonde paled, before stuttering a 'no' and something about not feeling well.
"Eh? You sick or something Luce?" Natsu perked up and somehow apparating beside her to place a hand on her head.
'Hot! His hand is so hot!' Lucy's mind panicked at the sudden increase in proximity. However, in a matter of minutes, she managed to gain her composure and knock the dragon-slayer aside…well, into the wall, truthfully.
"I'm fine, just-just hungry is all," Lucy fibbed. She had only told Erza she wasn't feeling well because she didn't feel like being beat to a pulp at the moment, thank you very much.
"If that's the case, I've had breakfast prepared for us," Aoi smiled happily.
"Thank you Aoi," Lucy smiled cheerfully.
"It was my pleasure," the child purred, making Gray shiver. The young charioteer seemed all too happy for Gray's liking but…it's not like being happy was a crime, either.
'I'll just have to bear with it for now,' Gray thought ruefully, throwing Erza a meaningful side look. The scarlet haired mage caught his gaze and after a brief pause, nodded her head in understanding. They had to stay on high alert.
The duo had already scouted out the building and the nearby shops and streets earlier this morning while Lucy slept. Normally they would have roused her but considering the nature of the mission they decided that she should be allowed to rest as long as possible. And perhaps that it was for the best as they found nothing of interest or any inherent threats while on patrol. Most everything seemed rather normal for the town, the exception being the incredibly sparse amount of people they happened to see wandering about the streets. With so many homes, it seemed odd that there were so few residents despite the early hour.
"Whoa! Happy is sure gonna be sad he missed out on this!" Natsu yipped in glee, running over to the fully stocked dining table. Lucy and the others stopped and stared in amazement at the vast array of food that had been laid in wait for them: eggs, bacon, waffles, toast, fish, steak, fruits, vegetables, and so much more.
"I-is this really for us?" Lucy asked nervously, chocolate eyes flickering away from Natsu, who was already trying to cram an entire rack of meat down his gullet, to Aoi.
"Yes, of course. You're our saviors, remember?"
"B-But this is just too much."
"What are you saying Lucy!? This is amazing!" Natsu cried out, jumping onto the table to gain better access to the bounty the furniture had to offer.
"Oi! Leave some for the rest of us flame brain!" Gray bit, rushing to the table and grabbing a chicken leg and taking a large bite out of it. Natsu glared down at him, a look Gray willing returned. During the silent exchange a challenge had been issued and both parties seemed to accept by what they did next.
Natsu lunged at the chicken, prying loose the other leg of the fowl. In the blink of an eye he crammed the piece of poultry into his mouth and pulled out a pristine, white bone a moment later. Gray growled and reached for a lobster claw, cracking its shell with his bare hands before sucking the meat free. The dragon-slayer answered his actions with an irritated glower. Gray smirked victoriously between bites but Natsu was not to be outdone. Seeing a tray of nuts in the middle of the table, he grabbed a fistful, roasting them in his hands before tossing them in his mouth, creating deafening crunches as he munched upon the nuts and their blackened shells. The battle raged on, each mage desperately trying to outdo the other. It wasn't until an innocent bowl of porridge became caught in the cross fire that their feud was brought to an end.
The thick, sticky substance flew everywhere, coating all persons in the room and if it had not been for the overwhelmingly evil aura permeating into the room the boys more likely than not would have continued the competition.
"That's enough," Lucy commanded, her words sounding poisonous to the ear and her petite frame quaking in anger fearsome to behold. Natsu and Gray eagerly complied, slinking back into the respective seats and opting to finish their meals like civilized people…well, Fairy Tail civilized at least. Lucy bit back her rage, cleaning out her hair before turning to look at Aoi. The poor youth was completely drenched with porridge. "Oh, Aoi. I'm so sorry. You're completely caked in the stuff," she fretted, handing him a cloth to clean himself with. "Aoi?" Lucy questioned when he didn't respond.
"Are you alright?" Erza asked from across the table. She had been watching the pair in silence, calculating Aoi's every move and trying to solve the riddle this town posed at the same time.
Aoi looked up at the scarlet mage, startling her with the fire raging in his amber orbs but the passion seemed to die almost immediately and Erza couldn't help but wonder if she had completely imagined it when his lips quirked upwards into a bright smile.
"Yes. I'm fine. Thank you Lucy," he beamed and took the cloth from the stellar spirit mage.
"No don't thank me. It's because of those two idiots this even happened."
"Hey!" Natsu and Gray cried out, displeased that they had been called idiots.
"Just look at what you did. There's porridge everywhere. You're just lucky no one else was here," Lucy growled.
Natsu shrunk down into his chair upon the blonde's accusatory glare and words. However, Lucy's comment had the opposite effect on Gray. The ice mage perked up at her words, ignoring her admonition and instead, recalling his concern regarding the lack of people earlier today. He had wanted to question the young charioteer but forgot to do so after getting into that brawl with Natsu. But before he could finally voice his questions, Erza's smooth voice broke into the air.
"Yes, I am rather curious about that myself."
"W-What?" Aoi stammered.
"We haven't really seen or met anyone here, not to mention I have yet to see any staff or patrons as of yet."
Aoi dipped his head low, sucking in a deep breath but before he could answer Gray decided it was time he voice his questions as well.
"Yeah, and there are so many houses too. Just where is everyone?"
"Gray! Erza!" Lucy cried out, upset they had begun to pick on little Aoi yet again.
"No, Lucy. It's ok," Aoi interrupted, looking upon the mages with great joy. A low chuckle split his lips and seemed to freeze the air itself. "Your questions will all be answered in due time, you have my word," Aoi announced, placing a hand against his heart, "But first, you must answer my question first. 'Quid pro quo'. Agreed?
Erza and Gray nodded but Lucy cast her eyes around the room, a tad nervous at the atmosphere permeating the air, and Natsu sat there staring blankly at all parties involved.
"Wonderful. Now my question for you for is…Did you enjoy your meal?" Aoi chirped merrily.
"W-Wha?" Gray stammered, the seemingly unimportant and ludicrous question catching him off guard.
"Well, did you?"
"I found it enjoyable, yes," Erza answered slowly, suspicious of where the conversation was headed. Typically, such a question would be considered mundane and simple but it was so very out of context that Erza felt herself become on guard and wary.
"Yeah! It was wonderful, man!" Natsu exclaimed, patting his bloated stomach.
"I liked it," Gray murmured.
"It was delicious, Aoi. Thank you for going through all the trouble to prepare it for us," Lucy answered, emphasizing the thanks to remind the child's accusers of just one of the kind acts he had done for them.
"That's great!" Aoi smiled. "I'm glad you all could enjoy your last meal."
"Last meal?" Gray asked, the first to notice the ominous words.
"Yes, silly," Aoi smirked, throwing up a hand towards the ice mage. Wheels sprouted from the mage's feet and sent him flying backwards into the wall.
"Gray!" Lucy shouted. She made to move towards him but was held back by the teal-haired child, an evil smirk adorning his adolescent features. And Lucy was moderately grateful when she watched Erza run to Gray's side.
"You don't know how long I've waited for this," Aoi brimmed with glee, his grip on the celestial mage's arm tightening painfully.
"Aoi, you're hurting me," Lucy whined, trying to pry herself free from his grip.
"Let go of her, you bastard!" Natsu roared, charging towards the imp. Aoi chuckled at the preemptive strike.
"Foolish human. You have no power here," he announced, sending Natsu into a wall just as he had Gray.
"Natsu," Lucy whimpered.
"None of you do," Aoi finished, turning to smile at Lucy.
Lucy could feel a slight panic overcome her as she desperately tried to reach for a connection with her stellar spirits. However, she could find nothing except a black void.
'When did this happen?' she thought frantically to herself.
"Your power is useless now. Unless Ophiuchus wishes for you to release your powers, you're helpless," Aoi told her, as if he could read her thoughts.
'Why is that name familiar?' Lucy thought, panic slowly setting in.
"Just what the hell is going on?" Natsu spat.
"The final plan, and believe me—you do not know just how long I have waited for this moment," Aoi answered, all too enthusiastic.
"So you are a bad guy," Gray spat, leaning slightly on Erza for support.
"Yes, you were a rather perceptive lot. But it no longer matters because you have fallen right into our trap. My master has big plans for all of you, particularly you, Lucy." Aoi said, smiling far too brightly considering the topic.
"We never should have trusted you," Erza glared, exquipping her armor.
"Oh," Aoi whined mockingly, his voice feigning hurt, "And I thought we were becoming friends. Hmph. Oh well, I have no use for stupid and weak humans like yourself." Aoi raised his hand in front of him and abruptly, the whinny of a herd of horses echoed through the room. Blue flames sprouted from nowhere, taking the shape of wild steeds on a rampage.
"Ahh!" the three mages cried out collectively, trampled mercilessly under the stampede. The walls of the room collapsed under the power of the herd, creating clouds of dust and debris.
"Guys!" Lucy yelled, before choking on the dirt hanging in the air.
"It's time to go Lucy, don't you think?" Aoi smiled innocently.
"L-Let go of me," the blonde stuttered, trying to pry her arm free only to have the grip tighten painfully. "I said 'Let go'!" she hollered, only for it to result in Aoi holding on to her so tightly that his nails broke her skin, leaving sickly trails of crimson to fall down her arm.
"That won't work on me anymore."
"W-What? What are you talking about?"
"You can't control me anymore. We're too close to Mt. Suh Cuihpo for you to do that," Aoi told her, her smile transforming back into its more wicked nature.
"I don't understand," Lucy whispered.
Aoi's eyes furrowed, before they relaxed and eased into a pleased face, "That's right. You've never understood. No one ever has. Even the others don't understand but don't worry; you don't need to understand anything. You just need to die."
"You first, asshole!" a voice shouted, alerting the pair to an ice lance hurtling their way. Aoi pulled to his left to dodge the attack, inadvertently placing Lucy straight in its path.
"Ahhh!" Lucy screamed as the cold, sharp projectile made contact. She could feel it pierce her skin as she tried to shift her body as best she could in an attempt to weaken the blow.
"Shit!" Gray swore when he saw what he had done. "Lucy, are you okay?" Gray asked, holding his ground as Erza dealt with Natsu. Apparently in the dragon-slayer's attempt to eat one of the flaming horses he wound up on top of one of the beasts.
"Fine," the blonde grunted from the floor where she fell.
A chilling laugh broke the air, drawing both of their attention back to the imp child.
"What a right bunch of fools you are. Oh, what fun Big Brother will have with you!" Aio cried happily, causing both mages to cringe at the deluded young mage.
'How did I not see this before?' Lucy asked herself. The signs that Aoi was off were mild at best but still there. However, something blinded her. Perhaps she was just a fool, a fool who had let herself and her friends fall into a trap.
"Natsu! Get up!" Erza commanded, her dark eyes scanning their surroundings. Aoi's attack had thrown them outside and much to the mage's chagrin, she discovered that they were outnumbered. Several people, Erza could only presume they were some of the villagers they had seen last night, crowded around them. They could not see it in the dark of the night but under the light of day, she could discern the clear, glazed over eyes that all the members of the group shared.
"Come at me, then!" she roared, brandishing her weapon against the soulless army. She held her own well enough for a time but the pressure placed on her by the mindless horde began to gnaw at her. After all, she did not want to cause any of these people serious injury. Her mind was plagued with the fearful notion that these people were under some sort of spell. She had seen a few similar incantations on previous missions and knew that despite the appearance of immunity to pain, they could feel every blow. Her growing weariness blinded her from an attack directed at her from her left. But fortunately, an explosion of fire stopped the oncoming attack.
"Need some help?" Natsu grinned cockily. Erza answered with a soft relieved smile, partially happy Natsu was back on his feet and confident with the knowledge that that with him by her side there was no foe too powerful. "FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!" Natsu yelled, lighting up the battlefield in a mass of oranges, reds and yellows.
"Natsu, stop!" Erza cried after him, making him end his attack.
"What?" he bit back angrily.
"I think these people are under a spell. We can't hurt people who have no power over themselves."
"Damn it," Natsu spat, eyeing the looming crowd with a tad more apprehension than he had previously.
"We need to make a break for it," Erza said, earning her a disapproving look from Natsu. "Go get Lucy and Gray. I'll hold these guys off and we'll head to the woods."
"Tch," Natsu tsked but didn't argue. In a split second, he ran towards the ruins of the building they had been in to find his comrades.
"You mortals are such funny creatures, always crying, always hurting, always covered in red, at least you are when Big Brother is finished with you and it's such a lovely shade to. I say we paint the town with it, don't you agree?" Aoi giggled.
Gray glared back whilst placing pressure on the gaping wound on his left arm. His eyes darted to Lucy who seemed to be finally coming to. Aoi had deemed her struggling "annoying" and knocked her unconscious and none too kindly. Blood trickled down from her head until it marred her pale skin.
"Come on, let's play," Aoi smirked, his head tilting to the side in a psychotic manner.
Lucy could only hardly hear Aoi's request as she felt herself come to. Being a mage of Fairy Tail requires one to develop a quick recovery time, particularly to over the head injuries. Stifling a groan she rose to her feet, staggering a bit but regained her balance sneaking behind Aoi.
"Sure, I always wanted someone to play tag with as a kid," Lucy screamed, forcing herself to her feet and tackling Aoi from behind.
"Lucy!"
The pair grappled on the floor, pulling at each other and earning various nicks and scrapes by the debris.
"I'll fuckin' kill all of you!" Aoi screeched, throwing the blonde off of her.
"Over my dead body!" Natsu roared, flames engulfing his fists and licking at the wooden walls with a growing hunger and appetite. Upon seeing the state his comrades were in, the salmon haired boy quickly forgot his orders to retrieve his friends and escape to the woods.
"You insolent fool! That's the point!" Aoi grinned, spurring the dragon-slayer into action.
"Natsu!"
Natsu's step slowed to a halt and his eyes darted towards whoever called out his name. Gray was supporting a weak and battered Lucy and had nearly managed to make it out of the destroyed inn. He had apparently come to the same conclusion as Erza, they needed to fall back.
"YOU IDIOT! You've lit the whole house on fire! It's going to come down!"
Or maybe he just could discern the rapidly deteriorating structural integrity of the building they were standing in. Natsu and Aoi both looked up just in time to see a wooden beam crash to the floor, spitting out angry sparks when it hit the floor.
"Aaaaiiiiieeeeeeeeeee!" Aoi shrieked, falling out of the way of the burning log.
"Crap! Let's run!" Natsu said, turning on his heel to meet Lucy and Gray by the gaping hole.
"You're running too fast dipshit!" Gray hollered from behind him.
"Awww, can the poor baby ice sucker not keep up?" Natsu teased.
"No way flame brain, but I've kinda got some extra weight back here!" Gray retorted, prompting Natsu to turn around and see what Gray had meant. Lucy was trying her best to run alongside her raven haired companion but she couldn't keep up. Natsu noticed the numerous little trickles of blood that pooled around shoes and even left soft imprints on the ground behind her. It had to be painful. Without much thought, the dragonslayer doubled back and hoisted the blonde onto his back much to her surprise and Gray's.
"It'll be faster this way and it's not like my shoulders banged up like the pathetic excuse of a mage over there," Natsu grinned and pointed to Gray.
"Hey, watch it ash hole!"
Lucy just smiled softly and nuzzled into his shoulder. The mage's steps were hard and heavy but Lucy almost felt as if she was being gently rocked, her mind slowly delving into unconscious as Natsu's body heat provided her with all of the warmth she'd ever need.
"Natsu! Gray!" Erza breathed a sigh of relief when she saw them, but her nose crinkled when she realized Natsu was carrying Lucy. Summoning her strength to throw back her opponents, she ran to her friends. "What's wrong with Lucy?"
"Huh? Oh. I guess she fell asleep, but she's fine."
"So how are we getting out of here?" Gray asked, eyeing the daunting number of opponents in front of them and none seemed worse the wear despite taking a beating from Erza.
"We're doing this!" Erza said, grabbing both males wrist and sprinting in the opposite direction of the volatile masses.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Gray and Natsu let loose feminine like screams as they were drug behind the scarlet mage, their feet flying freely in the air behind them.
Neither mage was quite sure when they hit the forest or for how long they had been hidden within the trees when Erza finally stopped, let lax her vice like grip, and turned to give them a victorious smile and thumbs up.
"She-She's a demon," the pair murmured in unison, sliding to their knees.
Natsu tensed when he felt the grip around his neck tighten but relaxed when he remembered he was carrying their blonde teammate. The dragon-slayer hadn't taken much note of how she had passed out earlier but now that he had the time to think he was concerned…and slightly amazed she had managed to keep hold of him after Erza's terrifying man grab.
"She's pretty roughed up but nothing a few bandages and rest won't fix," Gray commented, walking over to the pair. Natsu was just in the process of prying her from his shoulders but she didn't want to seem to budge.
"We'll stay here for the night," Erza announced, not taking much heed to the dragon-slayer's dilemma.
"I'll go off and scout around," Gray volunteered, stripping off his shirt not that anyone noticed with Lucy being unconscious.
Erza nodded in agreement, "Just be careful, these woods are enchanted."
"Ai."
Erza watched Gray's retreating figure before turning back to her only two remaining comrades only to find Natsu desperately trying to free himself from a sleeping Lucy's grasp. She chuckled earning a glare from Natsu. She smiled, coughing into her hand as a response.
"She seems comfortable and needs the rest, how about you let her sleep like that tonight?"
Natsu looked at her incredulously. "But how am I supposed to sleep?" he whined.
"Just lay down on your side and let her hold on to from the back."
"But I don't wanna go to sleep yet."
"Just do it, 'sides laying down doesn't mean you have to go to bed," Erza countered, an authoritative edge to her tone.
"Well what else can a person do while lying down?" Natsu grumbled and Erza chuckled.
"What?" an irritated voice shot back in the darkness.
"Nothing," Erza sighed and began to set up camp as Natsu's amber eyes followed her. After all what else could he do? Soon he began to grow weary of watching Titania go about camp and create a small fire pit. A yawn crept its way past his lips and within minutes he was asleep.
Gray came back just short of an hour later and smirked at the sight of the cuddled up celestial mage and dragon-slayer. While he was out scouting, he had found a stream and cleaned up his injury as well as brought some back in a large container he created out of ice. It wouldn't last long but hopefully til morning, if not he'd just go back and get some more. His grin fell when he caught sight of Erza huddled next to the fire. Her eyes poured into the flames and brows knitted together in contemplation.
"I brought back some water if you want to clean up."
"Thanks," Erza mumbled.
"So what do we do now?" Gray asked, informing the armor mage that he wanted more than monosyllabic answers to his queries.
Erza's eyes never left the fire when she answered him.
"We go back. This was obviously a trap and we need to warn Master and the Council."
"But what about the people?"
"They aren't people."
"What?!" Gray shot back shocked.
"They're corpses. Soulless drones."
"I donned my Purgatory Armor after you left. That armor is made to seek out the souls of my enemy's improving accuracy amongst other things and yet, my sword felt nothing. When trying to use its blasting capabilities, shots fired everywhere and rained down in a confused scattered mess. Those people aren't under a spell because there's no soul, no consciousness to bewitch in the first place."
"H-How can that be? I've never heard of a magic that can bring back the dead."
"Neither have I and…"
"And what?" Gray pressed after an awkward silence fell after her words.
"And you look tired, I'll take the first watch," Erza answered, a small smile on her lips.
Gray paused, wanting to press Erza further to coax the truth out of her but he was tired and trying to get Erza to do anything she didn't want to would be a great undertaking he didn't feel quite up to.
"Fine. Wake me up when you want to sleep," Gray said reluctantly, walking over to a spot near the fire. They had left all of their gear at the village. Lucy would have a fit when she got up. Gray smirked slightly at the thought of what was sure to be the blonde's over the top reaction.
"Ya know what? There's just one thing that bothers me," Gray mumbled turning to face Erza.
"What is it?"
"Aoi. He didn't chase after us when we escaped the building and we couldn't run very fast at first because of Lucy's injuries. That's why Natsu decided to carry her but he surely had enough time to catch up. …You don't think he wanted us to escape do you?"
"Get some sleep Gray," Erza answered softly pondering over her compatriot's question.
A gurgled sound choked its way throughout the empty caverns of rock, slowly becoming more defined and recognizable as a deranged form of laughter upon venturing further into the cliff. The hollow, wicked sound reverberated off the cave walls and filled the mountain with the noise of an evil rumbling that could deafen. Torches mounted on the walls cast ominous shadows as if hiding a great evil in the blackness. Only scratches and cracks decorating the cavern were illuminated, giving the impression the mountain itself was just as disturbed as the voice that consumed it. The cave stretched on, pausing to conjoin at a singular main junction before the pathway split; some routes delved further into the rock and others tunneled down, but only one spiraled up into the heart of the massive peak. Stairs began to form at the half length of hall, making it easier to ascend the mountain. Upon reaching the top, a landing had been formed which proceeded to lead into a large room. Despite the chamber's massive size, or perhaps because of it, the room appeared to be separated into twelve sections, designated through lines drawn across the floor to matching corners on the wall. In the middle of the space sat an oversized dodecagon, connecting the lines with foreign scribbles and writing. On the north face of the cavity, resting on elevated platforms, resided twelve glass capsules—two of which were occupied. The bodies stood motionless in their prisons, eyes shut from the world just as their physical beings had been trapped. Only the man laughing maniacally provided the room with any trace of life.
"Come soon my dear little Lucy. Mommy's waiting for you after all," the voice cackled with malicious mirth. Acidic olive eyes rolled back into the man's head as a noxious cackle rippled from his throat with such passion his head was flung backwards, threatening his balance. Long ebony tresses, snarled and ratted danced a sickly rhythm just above the floor, swaying erratically at each chuckle and shake of the head. Dirt shone out proudly against the man's ghastly pale skin and covered the tattered bit and pieces of the cloth that made him decent.
"Opic-Brother, I've just been informed the celestial mage and her comrades have arrived," a new voice interrupted, halting the crazed laughter. The clicking heels of centaur usually announced his presence long before he would need to announce it, but the man's laughter had prevented him from hearing the resounding clacks.
"What other reason for such mirth would I have if I was not already well aware of this fact?"
"Pardon my intrusion Brother. I meant no disrespect."
The olive eyed man waved a hand dismissively, earning a quiet albeit relieved sigh from the latter.
"It is of no large matter. Do not fret, Toliman. It is better to be warned twice than not at all. Besides, we are all family now and how could I be a proper elder brother if I let such a petty quarrel come between us."
"I am glad Brother sees it that way," Toliman answered, his back hoof stomping slightly on the firm ground, steadying his stance.
"What can I do for you?" the man asked, his voice sounding sour and sweet simultaneously.
"Um…," Toliman stammered, the nauseous, unsure feeling he occasionally felt when around his leader surfacing, "I was curious as to what you should have us do. Shall we fetch the girl? Charioteer seems to be having diff-"
"No. I have already devised a method that shall bring her to us of her own volition. There shall be no need for force so prematurely."
"Yes, Brother. If there is nothing more Brother wishes from me, I will take my leave."
"No, you may go Toliman."
"As you wish Brother," Toliman answered, granting the man with a quick bow before leaving. This time, his hoof beats could easily be heard leaving the room in the silence the followed his absence.
"Worthless imbeciles," the man muttered under his breath, staring vehemently at the exit Toliman had just taken. The man lingered there like that for a time, before he abruptly whipped around to face his two captives.
"With this I shall end it and then," the man paused, turning round to leave the chamber himself, "then, I will finally find my peace," Ophiuchus whispered, trudging down into the dark hallway, his figure soon consumed in blackness.
No apologizes here. This is honestly a terrible YEAR for me and I'm going to leave it at that. Updates will be few and far between most likely but I'll try. Thanks to all of my readers. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I didn't mean for it to take so long.
No question this round, just a big thank you to all of my supporters!