"Good God..." Lyon breathed, as he, Jura, Chelia, Lucy, Levy, and Juvia stared at the imposing structure they could see in the distance, its black walls glinting even in the now-darkness.
The six mages were standing on a balcony of the large, white palace of Crocus that overlooked the small garden behind it; bordering the small patch of green grass and rainbow flowers was a wall similar to the one that had admitted the Sabertooth mages into the Hell palace. Beyond that was a large expanse of land that was clear of any sort of building...or, at least, it should have been clear.
Now, perhaps four miles out, a large, black palace that seemed like an exact copy of the one beneath their feet loomed. As far as the mages could tell in the dark, every window, door, or decoration was exactly the same.
"That's it," Lucy's fists clenched. "That's got to be where Daman is. He's right there. We need to attack!"
"No." Jura said, more harshly than he'd intended, turning towards her. "That would be exactly what that devil wants - you to go barging in. There are bound to be traps everywhere, and, anyway, how would you navigate through the palace? How would you know where he was?"
Lucy crossed her arms, glaring straight back into Jura's eyes, unwavering. "Simple; I sniff him out. Or Asura, or Lilith. One thing I know is that they'll all be together. And as for the traps, I'll get Lector to fly me over or around them; it's my duty to take care of him now, anyway."
Jura shook his head firmly. "No, Lucy. Right now, we need to strategize - "
"If we waste our time strategizing, Aura will start picking us off, one by one!" Lucy shouted, eyes flashing and an aura of white and gold flaring up around her. "We need to make a move - and quickly!"
Lyon held his hands up placatingly, taking a step towards Lucy. "Be careful," he warned. "You're not used to your new strength yet. Just calm down, and let's all head back down to the Hell Palace. I don't like being out here."
Lucy snarled at Jura and Lyon in turn, but the aura around her died down as she whipped around and stalked back into the coolness of the castle, Juvia and Levy rushing behind her with soothing words and comforting touches.
Cheila bristled. "Hmph. I'd like to teach her a lesson."
"Drop it, Chelia," Jura said sharply, making the young girl jump. "Lucy has been through a lot; more than the rest of us at the moment. She has grieved, but now the anger is rising in her. She - and the rest of Sabertooth's team, really - need to stay in the Hell Palace until we're sure that they can make rational decisions."
The God Slayer frowned, then sighed. "She could still be nicer..."
Later that night, still unallowed to take a route through the city, Lucy on her back, staring up at the beige fabric of her tent with eyes wide open. On her right was Levy, curled into a ball, and even further to the right was Juvia, who occasionally murmured something that sounded like 'Gray-sama.' Yukino was on the blonde's left, back to her fellow Celestial Spirit mage.
The silence was stifling; both Sabertooth girls knew the other was awake.
"Hey...Yukino?" Lucy finally asked, softly.
There was a soft rustling sound, and then Yukino turned over, blue eyes meeting brown. "Yes, Lucy?"
The blonde reached out, touching Yukino's sleeping bag where she thought that the other girl's shoulder was. "I wanted to tell you...about what you were going to research. Deux lux Mea." Yukino opened her mouth, but Lucy shook her head. "Don't interrupt, please. I want to tell you, first, and tomorrow I want to tell the rest. Deux lux Mea is a spell that - "
"Targets the evil in people and destroys it, turning their body to stone. The spell isn't cast often because the price that must be paid is your life - all but a year, that it." Yukino put in, softly. "Levy and I found out. We were on our way back to tell everyone when...when everything happened."
Lucy's expression became sad. "So you and Levy know...does anyone else?"
"No." Yukino shook her head as best as she was able, lying down. "But I think it's a good thing that you want to tell everyone." She wiggled around a bit in her sleeping bag, freeing her arm so that she could grab Lucy's hand. "You...are going to defeat Daman, right?"
Lucy squeezed her fingers. "Yes. As much as I hate to wait, Jura is right; barging into that palace would be a mistake. But I will defeat Daman and Asura. With the power of my Spirits, Estrella's power, and Sting's power, I'll do it. I promise."
Yukino smiled sadly, chin quivering as tears rolled out of her right eye and across her nose, joining the stream of tears from her left eye. "Thank you."
The two girls, still holding hands, fell asleep as the camp finally quieted down, everyone in their sleeping bags with the exception of the night patrols, who would not be back for some hours.
Only one shadowy figure, perhaps only a foot in height, was moving, making its way through the maze of tents and pushing back the flap of the one it was looking for. Carefully, it stepped around familiar women, stepping over their joined hands with great care as it reached for the object it needed; the little vial around the blonde's neck. She was so deeply asleep that it was easy for the figure to snap the chain; object acquired, the figure allowed wings to sprout from its back. It hopped into the air and silently gliding out of the tent. He had not been seen...
...Or so he'd thought. The golden eyes of the little white and gold cat curled in the corner of the tent saw everything, but thought nothing of it. After all, what did it matter to her if Lector took something from Lucy? The blonde mage had yet to even look at her since her return. No, Krys thought, it didn't matter. After all, a little vial of clear liquid - water? - wouldn't hurt him at all...
Rogue, Froche, Rufus, Juvia, and Levy all reached the breakfast set up at the same time the next morning.
"Those two are still sleeping?" Rogue asked, nodding towards their tent. "I don't think either of them have eaten since breakfast yesterday; they must be famished."
Juvia smiled softly. "They are sleeping away. Juvia thinks they must have had an important talk in the night that Levy and Juvia didn't hear; they're holding hands."
"With the way the two of them and Sting were connected, it's no surprise. They need each other to grieve and move forward." Rufus nodded to himself as he accepted a plate of hot food from Mira with a grateful expression. "How're the patrols?" he asked the white-haired woman.
"Freed and Bixlow went out this morning to replace the outer ring, Jura and a girl he called Isabelle went out to the middle ring, and Evergreen and Cana are in the inner ring. A fourth patrol has started on the top floor of the castle, keeping watch on the Obsidian Palace." she replied, handing food to her fellow guild members and Rogue, who had a little extra to share with Froche.
The mages were halfway through their food when Lucy and Yukino stumbled over, Lucy holding Krys tightly in her arms. Both cat and owner looked like they had been crying, but no one said a word as they sat down. (Krys and Lucy between Levy and Rogue and Yukino between Rogue and Rufus)
"Good morning!" Froche jumped onto Lucy's leg, grinning up at her, then at Krys. Both smiled sleepily at him in return.
"Here," Mira held a plate out to the two Celestial mages. "You two need to eat and get woken up; we're having a meeting at nine to start planning a course of action."
Both nodded before Lucy asked, "Has anyone seen Lector? I left him in my tent last night before we went up to the balcony. He wasn't there when I came back, but I thought it was because he went to go see you, Rogue."
Rogue looked puzzled. "No, I haven't seen him since we first got here. Froche?"
The cat shook his head. "Fro hasn't," he answered, hopping up from Rogue's lap. "But Fro is done eating for now, so Fro will go look for Lector!" With that, he grinned at the mages smiling kindly at him before hopping into the air, wings materializing as he swooped off.
"Don't get lost!" Rogue called after him, worriedly. "I'll be able to find you, but it might take a while with how big this place is!"
"Fro understands!" the cry came, softer, since the little Exceed was almost out of sight.
"We should get along to the meeting, now." Mira glanced at a watch on her wrist that Lucy didn't know she had; a further sniff told the blonde that it was actually Freed's watch, and it made her crack a genuine smile.
"We'll carry our food along," Lucy said, as she stood.
Mira looked hesitant. "Are you sure it's a good idea...?" she asked, slowly, looking embarrassed at having to ask the question.
Lucy's smile faltered, then died, and the rest of the Sabertooth's expressions followed suit.
"We'll be fine," Rufus said, softly. "I think we've all realized that revenge will probably get us killed. Working with everyone with a plan is a better idea for everybody involved."
Mira nodded, slowly. "Alright then. Let's go."
By the time the mages arrived, arguments were flying back and forth at a rapid pace. It was hard to tell, since the voices were overlapping, but Lucy figured out that it was Jura, Makarov, and Erza versus the guards.
"We should attack straight on! Now!" the head guard shouted, red in the face. "They've already killed a dozen guards, a handful of citizens, and even one of Sabertooth's mages!" Right after he said this, his eyes caught sight of the Sabertooth mages who'd just arrived and he glanced down, embarrassed.
"That's a good way to lose even more people." Erza - at what looked like her new permanent spot beside the princess - crossed her arms. "I refuse to do such a stupid thing and watch my friends and family die around me."
"Erza-san is right. We need strategy." Jura nodded. "The land out there is cleared, so it's not like we can sneak up on them. They're too smart for that, anyway. There's a young woman in our guild who could cast an invisibility spell, but it can only cover a maximum of eight people, including herself. What eight people would we choose to go? How could we know they'd all come back?"
The wheels in Lucy's head were already turning. "We won't; we'd have to have faith in them." she said, making all the eyes turn to her as she tightened her hands into fists. "Me, Rogue, Erza, Rufus, Laxus, Yukino, Jura, and the girl can go. If she can't fight, we'll find somewhere safe for her. With all the people I've named, it'll be child's play to distract them long enough for everyone else to come."
"You've forgotten one thing," a guard - not the head, but close to it - interjected. "That obsidian monstrosity is an exact copy of the palace we're currently under. Do any of you know it well enough to get around? If we're right about this Daman guy, he'll be in the throne room, no doubts about that."
"I want to go." a soft voice said, and every head whipped around to stare in shock at the princess, who'd spoken for the first time since her father's death. She looked scared, but continued on after a glance at Erza. "I know this castle like the back of my hand, so I will go, instead of Jura-san. I can take them straight through to the throne room."
"Your safety - " the head guard began.
"Is taken care of. Erza-nee and the others are very powerful, and I trust them all." the princess cut him off. "If Lamia Scale's mage agrees, then she, Lucy-san, Rogue-san, Rufus-san, Yukino-san, Laxus-san, Erza-nee and I will go, now."
Lucy had been getting more and more anxious as the princess spoke, but even she drew back at the word 'now.'
"Princess, we've already talked about rushing into things..." Erza began uneasily.
"I trust you, all of you." Hisui shook her head. "Your hearts are filled with grief but your minds are clear. I am the same."
"This could be a good compromise." Rufus said, carefully. "We're not charging in a way that would get many uselessly killed, but we're taking action quickly. If we're careful..."
Everyone considered this for a moment.
Makarov sighed. "I agree with the plan, no matter how uneasy it makes me. Are those involved willing?"
"All of us are. We just need to ask Laxus and..." - Lucy glanced at Jura, who supplied, "Rin." - "Rin. And if I know Laxus like I think I do, he'll be chomping at the bit to go."
"Rin will be up for it, as well. She wants to be of assistance as much as she can." Jura bobbed his head. "Now, let's go and converse with the two we've mentioned. Meet back up here in an hour so we can go over a few more details, alright?"
Everyone included nodded.
Lucy spun around on her heel, glancing over her shoulder at Makarov. "Laxus is...?"
"Look in his tent; he had the late watch." the elderly man replied.
The blonde nodded. "Thanks." she bobbed her head before taking off in that direction.
Before she got more than a few strides, however, something small crashed into her chest with enough force to make her stumble backwards, into Rogue's arms. (He'd been running after her.) Krys, who'd been on her shoulder, fell to the ground with a small cry. Yukino retrieved her as Lucy tried to make heads or tails of the sobbing creature in her arms.
"Froche?" Lucy asked, and the cat let out a high wail. "What's wrong?"
Rogue's arms steadied the girl, then vanished as he darted around the blonde to snatch his Exceed out of her arms, cradling him close. "What's happened, Froche?" the Shadow Dragon Slayer asked, voice anxious.
"L - Lector." the cat finally managed. "On those rocks...that look like a little room..."
The rocks where I sat yesterday? Lucy wondered. When Froche gave another, shuddering sob, Lucy leaped once again into a run, away from Laxus' tent and towards where the Exceed had said his friend was. Lector...
Laxus was making his way towards the morning's meeting, yawning, when he saw Lucy running in his direction like she was being chased. "Hey, Blondie - " he began, but she ignored him and kept going, towards the place he'd found her the day before. A second later, the blonde Memory Make mage appeared. The two blondes shared a look, then ran after the girl.
When she shrieked out something that sounded like the name of Sting's cat, they both sped up, skidding to a stop when they saw her, hands over her mouth, taking a step backwards from the rocks.
Laxus was at her side in a second, and she grabbed onto his shirt, burying her face in his chest. "It's my fault." she cried. "I thought he was asleep! I thought...and he...I should have stayed with him! I should have told everyone! I should have let Loke take that stupid bottle!"
Rufus approached the rocks, glanced in, swallowed, and then reached in. He took a step back and turned towards the Dragon SLayer, an Exceed limp in his arms. The little cat's paw was clutching something, but it fell to the ground, and both men saw that it was a small, glass bottle, a little bit of liquid still sloshing about in it. It looked like the little thing that Lucy had been wearing around her neck every day except - both of them realized suddenly - today.
"He's dead." the Sabertooth man said, unnecessarily, glancing at the cat in his arms. With a look on his face that spoke of his pain, he hugged the little body close to his chest.
Lucy made a small sound of pain, and Laxus pushed her away gently, hating that he had to do so in order to pick up the little bottle. It took him barely a whiff to know what it was. "Attor poison!" He whipped around to stare at the blonde girl, who seemed to be getting ahold of herself. "Just a sip cold kill a hundred men; a bottle this size could kill everyone here! Why did you have this!?"
"It's all my fault..." she whispered, in reply. "Everything...If I hadn't agreed to go on that mission with Natsu, if I hadn't cast that spell...I wouldn't be dying. If I hadn't run away and met Estrella, she might still be alive. If I hadn't had that poison...Lector..."
Laxus froze, one word echoing in his head. Once glance at Rufus confirmed that the Memory Make mage was just as alarmed. "D..dying?" he asked, lowly. "Lucy-san, what do you mean..."
She stared at the ground. "Now." she said, fingers curling into fists. "We need to go meet with everyone who's here now. There are things I have to say before we attempt this crazy mission."
A single tear slid down her face. Everything's my fault.
Guys, I'm so sorry for the long wait! Just to put things in perspective, I'm starting my third week of school tomorrow and I have two major projects due tomorrow and Tuesday and three major tests - one tomorrow, one Tuesday, and one Thursday. Plus, I'm working on a lot of stuff for volunteer work. Things are crazy! I hope you guys will wait for me, because I really won't be able to right a lot until Fall/Christmas break!
I know you guys are all biting at the bit for some revenge, but next chapter we'll still be in Hell Palace. After that, though, I'm confident that we'll be getting close to the major butt-whooping (and the end of the story)!
Next Chapter: I'm Sorry (Vanish)