"Gray? May I ask you a question?...Are you certain that this is normal for a beach?" Lucy questioned with furrowed eyebrows as she watched people jump into and then run out of the ocean.
"Yes Lucy, for the third time, this is what you do at the beach. You make sand castles, or swim, or play with a ball. You just…do something." Gray answered as he placed the finishing touches on his massive sand castle.
"…And you're being truthful when you say that this isn't just a joke that I don't get?"
Gray had finally had enough as he jumped up and shot Lucy an exasperated look. "Seriously Lucy? You didn't have this much trouble accepting the spas so why do you have so much issue with the beach?"
"That's simple; hot springs are well known for their medicinal properties. On the other hand, the sea is not useful to me in any way, only damaging hair and causing damage to my throat though its salty nature." Lucy responded as she readjusted her swim suit, thankful that Erza had prepared a one piece of her, as she didn't feel like fielding questions about her scars to curious children.
Gray opened his mouth to argue, preparing to defend the many wonders of a beach day ,including bikinis, but stopped when a realization hit him. "Hey Lucy…what do you do when you go home?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"I mean like, what do you do when you finish your day at Fairy Tail what do you go do?"
Lucy turned to look at her black haired teammate, not really certain if he was once again try to tell a joke. "I go home of course. Prepare a dinner, and go to bed."
"No I mean, what do you do for fun? You know, like how I pick fights with Flame Brain or how Erza always has cake nearby. What do you do for entertainment?"
"Ah…I don't do "entertainment." Lucy admitted, smiling nervously at Gray's shocked face. "Back at the institute my time was spent entirely on training, experimentation, or missions. And since then I've only been moving based on my mom's final wish or missions from Fairy Tail so I generally don't seek out fun. I understand the concept from talks with my mom and the other children but I haven't really experienced it much in my life."
Gray couldn't help but sigh as he rubbed his forehead. "Wow, Mira's plan isn't gonna happen too soon if this is the starting point."
"Mira's plan? What plan?" Lucy questioned, Gray seizing up for a moment before laughing it off.
"Don't worry about it…but what to do now to make you have fun?" Gray replied before crossing his arms and closing his eyes in concentration for a brief second before smiling and clapping his hands together. " Heh, I've got an idea. Come with me Lucy."
Gray ended up leading Lucy to a shop on the beach where one could rent both a sea creature that Lucy couldn't identify along with a wooden flotation device attached to said creature.
"Here ya go Lucy, I want you to ride on one of these things as long as you can ok?" Gray told her as he handed her the reigns, Lucy taking them obediently with a confused look on her face.
"But why? Is this supposed to be some sort of test?"
"Just trust me Lucy." Gray returned, but before Lucy could begin her aquatic adventure Natsu stormed up with a pout on his face.
"Luce, you weren't planning to go without me were you?"
"Uhh…I guess so? No one has exactly told me what I'm doing."
"Well then you're in luck!" Natsu shouted as he smiled arrogantly and pounded his chest with his fist. "Because I just so happen to be an expert on this…what are we doing again?"
"Oh, of course you are Ash-for- Brains." Gray replied evilly as he shoved Natsu onto the wooden float Lucy was standing on. "Well then you kids have fun!" He shouted before nodding to an employee, who promptly opened a gate and released the sea creature.
Lucy couldn't help but squeal in surprise as the sea creature yanked her through the waves, heavy tension on her arms as they skipped over the water and Natsu collapsing from motion sickness the moment they started, for a brief few seconds Lucy could feel her own motion sickness acting up, but after a brief second it was replaced by something else, something she hadn't experienced in a long time.
The feeling of trying to keep her balance as the massive fish took her over a particularly large wave, the entire craft going airborne for a few seconds. The exhilaration as the wind buffeted her along with splashes of sea water.
Lucy was excited, the feeling of testing her limits causing a smile and a giggle to escape from her lips as she angled the board at a particularly large wave, Natsu gurgling from behind her as they spiraled through the air.
Ill have to thank Gray and Loke for this. Lucy thought as she continued to race through the waves. I didn't think having fun would be so…fun!
The rest of the day went considerably better than Lucy had expected, or at least it did after she got over her own bout of motion sickness after pushing herself too much on the sea ride. Erza, Gray, and Natsu showed her the in and outs of a beach day, containing everything from a sport called volleyball to eating shaved ice.
The only down side that Lucy had noticed was the strange gaze she had felt for nearly the entirety of the day. But as she couldn't detect any hostile intentions behind it she simply chose to ignore it, they were on a vacation after all.
And according to Gray the fun was just beginning, as the resort they were staying at was particularly well known for its night life. And after telling Lucy to find herself a dress from the rental store they had on site, she ended up choosing a dark red high slit dress, Gray told her to go and retrieve Erza who had retired to her room earlier.
I wonder what else this place has in store for us? Lucy thought with a giggle, thoroughly enjoying what Gray defined as happiness, as she knocked on Erza's door and opened it at the same time. However her smile faltered when she opened the door to see the scarlet haired mage in full armor, staring at herself in the mirror with a complicated expression on her face.
"What's wrong Erza? Are we under attack?" Lucy questioned as she quickly scanned the room, not seeing any reason for her teammate to have retrieved her combat attire.
"Oh Lucy, its nothing. Just reminiscing." Erza replied as she turned to stare at her, a sad smile on her face. "Was there something you wanted from me?"
"Oh right, Gray said I should bring you down stairs. Apparently they have games to play at night." Lucy said, her own smile returning.
"That's right; I had forgotten that this establishment had such entertainment." Erza returned before glowing gold as her magic took effect, an impressive dress now on her body when the light faded. "Well then, lead on Lucy."
The two girls walked down the halls in relative silence for a brief time before Lucy looked up at her older teammate. "Um Erza?" She started, Erza turning to stare at her inquisitively. "I know I'm not exactly the best for this kind of stuff, but if you need to talk to someone about something…feel free to come to me."
"…what brought this on?" The scarlet haired mage asked with a surprised face.
"Well…it's just that you looked like you were thinking about something painful back there…and you all were there for me so I just…" Lucy started before bowing her head in embarrassment.
Erza chuckled lightly before pulling Lucy into a side hug, the blonde mage grateful for once that she wasn't wearing her armor as for once the hug was actually nice rather than painful. "Thank you Lucy and I promise that if I need to speak to someone about something difficult I will come to you. After all, isn't that what teammates are for?" she asked theoretically, Lucy smiling as well as she extracted herself from the hug.
The two Fairy Tail girls made their way down to a poker table where they both, for all intensive purposes stealing from the house, Lucy having obtained a talent of playing cards from her training and Erza claiming to be having a lucky day.
"In that case…how about we play a special game?" A new dealer asked the two girls after Erza claimed to be feeling invincible, the dealer tossing out fire cards to spell out "DEATH" "Lets play a game with your life on the line…my sister Erza." The dealer continued, bowing with a creepy look on his face.
"Sh-Sho?!...is that you?" Erza breathlessly asked, Lucy looking between the two with a confused expression.
"Its been a long time Sister." The man named Sho continued.
"Sister? You have siblings Erza?" Lucy questioned, her eyes never leaving the smug blonde haired teen before her.
But Erza either didn't hear her question or couldn't think properly, her lips trembling as she looked at the teen. "Youre…safe?"
"Safe?" The boy parroted, anger creeping in to his tone.
"Oh…I…mean…" Erza stuttered, her whole body shacking now in a way that reminded Lucy of the way she had reacted during the Phantom incident.
"Erza?" Lucy quietly questioned, her guard up after seeing her friends reaction. But before she could make a move all the lights vanished and a gunshot rang out. "What is…?" Lucy started to question but before she could finish the lights returned, both Sho and the other guests having disappeared at some point.
"Where did…" Erza questioned as she rose from her seat, Lucy following suit.
"Over here dear Sister." Sho called out from behind them, dropping a deck of cards on the floor as they turned, a deck of cards that now contained every civilian that had been present.
"Y-you can use magic?"
"That's right Sister, I've learned to use magic as well." Sho replied in the same creepy tone he had been using since the start of the conversation.
"What have you…?"Erza began to question, but before she could finish someone imitating a cat called out, magical binding ropes shooting up from the ground to entangled Lucy, who promptly fell to the ground with a thud.
"Lucy!" Erza called out as she turned around, ready to fight off the blondes attacker, but stopped when she noticed a brown haired girl. "Milianna? You can use magic too?"
"Long time no see Erzy! Are you feeling spiffy?" The girl questioned as she sat on the card table.
"Let go of Lucy! She's my friend!"
"Oh? We used to be your friends too, remember Sister?" Sho taunted, Erza clenching her fists in response.
"Youre…Erza's friends?" Lucy managed to say, wincing as the magical rope pulled tighter.
"Y-yes…I remember."
"Right?...of course that was before you betrayed us." Sho continued, anger and distaste now clear in his voice.
"Don't be so harsh on Erza Sho. A dandy man must keep his emotions in check after all." A blocky man said as he materialized out of thin air.
"Is that you Wally…? Youre using magic too?"
"It's nothing to be that surprised about Erza. After all, anyone can use it once they figure out the trick behind it." Another man called out as he appeared from Erza's shadow, an absolutely massive man with a metal jaw and an eye patch.
"Simon!" Erza shouted in surprise as she took a few steps back away from the newcomers. "Why are you all here?"
"What do you mean why?" Milianna questioned innocently as Wally chuckled.
"To bring you back with us of course."
"That's right…lets go home sister." Sho added, Erza shivering at his sentence.
"Let Lucy go! She has nothing to do with this!" Erza called out, hoping to spare her newest friend from the others.
"You'd better do as we say or else…" Wally threatened, his hand forming a gun and pointing directly at Lucy's forehead.
"No! Stop!" Erza shouted, ready to intercept the bullet, but stopped when she heard Lucy start to speak.
"I see…I understand the situation now." Erza heard the younger girl quietly say, her voice colder than Erza had ever heard her before. "You intend to take Erza…?"
"That's right, and since we already took out the ice and fire mages you were with no one will stop us." Sho taunted, Erza holding a hand to her mouth in shock but Lucy didn't react in any way beyond tensing slightly.
"I see…then that makes things simple." She started to say in the same tone."Then that makes you my enemies…"
Erza couldn't help but shiver at the blonde mages tone. "Lucy…?" She called out but the mage didn't respond her head lowered and her body ceasing all movement.
"You certainly keep some strange company there Erzy." Milianna commented as she pointed at the ropes binding Lucy which tightened in response.
Everyone there expected to hear Lucy cry out in shock or at the very least grunt as she struggled, but instead Lucy remained deathly quiet as her eyes turned to stare at four newcomers with soulless, empty eyes.
"Primary consciousness orders confirmed…targets identified…warning: unable to access magic due to magical constraints…formulating plan…confirm. Execute targets using physical combat." Lucy calmly declared in a strange tone, a tone that Erza quickly identified.
Is this…dragon Lucy? Erza thought in shock as Lucy began to struggle against the ropes, Milianna laughing as she did so.
Ha, Ha…you can't break free from my Nekōsoku Tube dummy. You're not nearly spiffy enough." She taunted before realizing that black lines had appeared on the girls arms and that she was in fact breaking free from the ropes. "N-nyah! She really is spiffy enough!"
Erza, and everyone else for that matter, watched in shock as Lucy managed to break out of most of the ropes with the exception of those that were wrapped around an individual limb. The ropes tearing away with a loud gruesome sound along with a spray of blood from where the ropes had cut into her skin.
"It appears that we underestimated at least one of Erza's companions." Simon calmly assessed as his eye glowed red and the lights within the casino once again completely died out.
"Simon don't do it!" Erza called out, not wanting to have Lucy's blood on her hands. But her friend didn't respond.
For a brief second there was no noise as Simon and Lucy confronted each other, but before long they could all hear Simon cry out in pain. The shadow spell shattered as the massive man reeled back, blood dripping down his arm from a shallow but long cut.
Erza quickly glance around to see Lucy, a small dagger in her hand, charging at Simon, her eyes just as cold as Jellal's had been the day he had cast her out.
She's going to kill him! She thought in a panic. But just as she didn't want to have Lucy's blood on her hands she didn't want Lucy to have blood on her own.
Stepping forward with her arms outstretched Erza blocked Lucy's path, unafraid of the small blade that was thrashing out at inhuman speeds. "Lucy stop! You can't kill if you're going to make up for your past!" She shouted desperately.
And to her surprise it worked. The blade stopped a few inches from hitting Erza in the arm. Lucy's eyes still blank but staring back at Erza's own.
"…orders received…ceasing combat functions…retreat from combat confirmed." She murmured before leaping away and disappearing down a corridor.
All five of the mages blinked in shock as they stared at the corridor that the blonde had disappeared down before Wally laughed. "Well now that that's over I think it's time for us to return." He replied as he pointed his gun at her, firing a tranquilizing dart at her.
"Sister…your finally coming home. Back to the Tower of Heaven." Sho said as he started to cry, Erza's thoughts becoming muddled as the tranquilizer worked its magic.
Gray, Lucy…Natsu. Please be safe. She thought as she fell unconscious.
Lucy crossed her arms as she stared out over the sea, fighting to keep her face neutral despite her growing seasickness. It had been over a day since the attack on the casino and they were finally getting underway in tracking the mages who had taken both Erza and Happy to parts unknown. The moment Lucy had regained consciousness from Dragon Lucy she had almost been overcome with sorrow at failing to protect her friend. Despite relinquishing control over her body to her other half she still could tell exactly what was happening and knowing she had failed to help Erza in her own time of need was almost too much to bear.
But she couldn't afford to wallow in self pity for too long, she still had teammates who were out there. And so Lucy had gone off to find Gray and Natsu, finding the former under the protection of the water mage who had captured her during the Phantom incident and the latter furious about being shot in the mouth.
Natsu had instantly jumped up screaming about the blocky bastard, as it was apparently that mage who had shot him, and had picked up on the trail almost instantly. He had wanted to leave immediately but Lucy had argued against it, saying that they needed to inform the authorities as to what had happened. But as soon as that was done she was one of the first on the boat they had rented, already ready to put as much magic as needed into the lacrima motor as needed.
"Damn…where the hell are we?" Gray cursed as he vented his frustrations, looking out over the sea with a furious expression.
"Have Juvia and her companions become lost?" Juvia questioned in a roundabout manner, the water mage perfectly comfortable in her heavy jacket despite the tropic heat.
"Natsu, are you sure that you still have the scent?" Lucy groaned from her spot on the boat, her motion sickness making it difficult to remain upright.
But she was still better off than Natsu, who was leaning over the side of the boat with a completely green face.
"Oy! We're relying on your nose to get us there dumb ass so pull yourself together!" Gray shouted at the disabled slayer.
"How dare you betray the Lovely Gray's expectations?" Juvia added in.
"Lovely?" Lucy questioned quietly, causing Gray to cough loudly to interrupt the conversation before Juvia could start again.
"But still…I can't believe that we let those bastards get the drop on us and get away with two of our own. Talk about pathetic."
"But still…Juvia finds it hard to believe that a wizard of Erza's level was defeated…" Juvia thought out loud, flinching when Gray turned his furious gaze on her instead.
"They didn't beat her! Don't act like you know anything about Erza!"
"I-I'm sorry!" The rain woman immediately apologized.
"Gray…" Lucy coldly warned, the ice mage clicking his tongue in response and turning away. "But she called them her friends…how much do we know about Erza if we didn't even know about them?"
"…what the hell is this ominous feeling?" Natsu said as he stood up, his motion sickness apparently gone, as he looked out over the sea at a flock of birds. A flock of birds that was falling out of the sky.
"What in the world…?" Gray questioned out loud as their boat hit a bunch of driftwood and dead fish, the driftwood bearing the Fiorian symbol.
"Look…" Natsu said as he pointed into the distance, a massive tower rising up out of the sea.
"That must be the tower of heaven." Lucy murmured, recalling the name she had managed to hear from the blonde haired, dark skinned boy.
"Water Dome" Juvia chanted the water around their dingy rising up to cover them. "Now Juvia and her companions may approach the tower without being detected.
"Impressive." Lucy murmured as she swirled her hand through the water in an attempt to keep her mind off of her twisting stomach.
"Ugh…I'm going to be sick." Natsu complained as he once again collapsed from his motion sickness, Lucy completely understanding his pain.
"Come on Natsu! You've got no sense of tension!" Gray shouted, Natsu growling in reply.
Their boat arrived at the base of the tower completely unhindered and the four mages jumped off and quickly started to make their way to the base of the creepy looking tower and hiding behind the rocky outcroppings.
"They sure have a lot of guards." Gray quietly commented as they watched the masked men walk around the perimeter of the tower, flanked by creatures that could only be referred to as flesh with teeth.
"…Wanna charge at' em?" Natsu happy asked, ready to spring into action.
"We cant do that. Not until we can confirm Happy's and Erza's safety." Lucy instantly refuted, the fire dragon slayer pouting at being told he couldn't burn something.
"The odds certainly are against us." Gray said with a sigh as Juvia rose out of the water.
"Juvia has found a passed underwater that leads to the basement." She announced.
"Seriously? Good job!" Gray praised, the water woman instantly turning to Lucy with a victorious smirk.
"Juvia was praised! Not you Love Rival!"
"…Love Rival?" Lucy questioned as Gray coughed again, Juvia squeaking slightly and reigning in her passion.
"The passage is about a ten minute swim underwater."
"Oh that sounds doable." Natsu joked, Lucy nodding along with him.
"Indeed, ten minutes should pose no problem." Lucy replied as she prepared herself for jumping in, only to be stopped at the last second by Gray.
"One sec Lucy…can you actually hold your breath for that long?"
"Of course, part of my training was in deep sea infiltration after all. Ten minutes isn't actually too long all things considered."
the group dived into the water a minute later, only after Juvia had prepared air bubbles for them to wear on their heads, and after swimming through the ocean their group ended up in a massive cavern with catwalks heading in all directions.
"Well that was fun…but where the hell are we now?" Gray questioned as they pulled themselves from the water.
Unfortunately no one was able to answer his question, as before they could one of the flying creatures happened to find them, its rider instantly calling for help.
"Guess we've got to fight then." Gray continued as he got into his stance, ice already forming around his hands.
"Oh ever shifting spirit of the earth, manifest your champion before me. Come forth; Cybele!" Lucy chanted as well, the maid elemental appearing at her side.
"Hello Mistress, is it time for punishment?" Cybele asked hopefully.
"Perhaps, that depends on how well you take care of our opponents." Lucy replied as she gestured to the many masked opponents who were charging at them.
"Hooray! Punishment!" The earth spirit celebrated in the same neutral tone she always used before charging at the guards, sending each and every one flying through the air without so much as pausing to slow.
When they had managed to finish of each and every one Natsu grabbed the nearest semiconscious guard had held him up, a furious expression on his face. "Alright talk! Where the hell are Erza and Happy! And while you're at it, where the hell is Blocky!" he ordered, but before the man could reply a stairway opened up in one of the walls, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
"They appear to be inviting us in, so this is likely a trap." Lucy warned as she readied her bow, knowing full well that she wasn't likely to get much room for firing in the tight quarters that awaited them.
"Doesn't matter, we just need to beat the crap out of whoever is waiting for us." Natsu challenged before sprinting off up the path all the while shouting "Blocky!"
"You think we should tell him to keep it down?" Lucy thought out loud as they followed after the excitable dragon slayer.
"Not much point since they know we're here now." Gray said with a shrug before turning a corner to find a massive table covered in all manner of foods.
"Huh…I didn't expect that." Lucy commented as all three of her companions sat down and started eating.
"Princess? Is it time for my punishment?" Cybele questioned again.
"Mmm…I suppose so." Lucy agreed as she grabbed a lit candle off the table and dragged her elemental down the hall they had come from, Natsu and Gray watching her leave with mouths wide open.
"Did Lucy really just go do that?" Gray asked, trying to ignore the strange cries that were now coming from down the hall.
"I don't think it's a great idea to leave those two together too often." Natsu agreed in between bites.
"Dearest Gray, is that the sort of play you're into as well? Juvia is shocked!" The water mage cried out.
"Oi, don't you go getting any ideas now too." Gray shouted back as footsteps echoed down the hall Lucy had gone down.
"Are we ready to continue?" the blonde questioned as she reappeared now wearing a brown and red dress with armor on her shoulders and flanked by a very satisfied looking elemental.
"Wow Lucy, looking good." Gray commented with a whistle, Natsu growling under his breath.
"It is combat attire from the plane of earth." Cybele explained as she tried to wipe the ecstatic expression from her face.
"Juvia is mortified!"
"Your in Loooove!" Cybele continued, Gray and Natsu looking at the elemental with strange, exhausted expressions.
"How'd you learn to imitate Happy like that?" Natsu questioned.
"I have spent many days with Master Happy discussing Mistress and you Master Natsu." The elemental replied instantly.
"…is that why I could sometimes feel my magic draining without having called on you?"
"Indeed…well then, I shall pray for your success Mistress." The elemental continued before disappearing in a brown glow.
"They're they are! It's the intruders!" A voice called out, a multitude of guards running down one of the hallways. But before anyone could make a move for their weapons Erza appeared and cut each and every one of them down.
"Erza!" The two boys shouted while Lucy simply smiled, grateful they had found one of their missing friends.
"Thank goodness you're ok." She started but frowned when Erza stared at them with a shocked and somewhat nervous expression.
"Wh-why are you here?" She questioned, Gray and Natsu raising an eyebrow at her tone.
"What do mean why? Isn't it obvious?" Lucy replied with a furrowed brow while Juvia tried to introduce herself.
"Leave! Now!" The red haired mage commanded. "You don't belong in this place."
"Don't give us that shit!" Natsu replied as he slammed a fist into his open palm. "running away now would only tarnish Fairy Tail's name. That blockhead has to pay!"
"…I'm telling you to leave
"Erza, they took Happy too, we can't just leave him." Lucy added, not comfortable with either disobeying her order or the thought of abandoning her friends.
"They took Happy too?" Erza parroted. "that was probably Milianna then."
"Do you know where they are?" Natsu asked but Erza only shook her head in response.
"All right! I got it!"
"Got what Flame Brain?"
"The fact that Happy is waiting for me! Hang on little buddy I'm coming for ya!" Natsu shouted as he ran off, Erza trying to stop him but he vanished too fast.
"That moron…we've got to go after him." Gray said with a sigh as he started to move forward, only to be stopped by Erza's blade.
"No. Milianna's a incomparable cat lover who I can't see harming Happy in any way. I'll take responsibility for bringing both of them back but the rest of you need to get away from here at once."
"Erza, we can't just leave without you." Lucy replied as she reached out for the older woman, only to flinch back when she screamed back.
"This is my problem! I don't wish to drag you into it."
"I'd say it's a little too late for that considering how Natsu just ran off." Gray said with a shrug while Erza began to walk away.
"Erza…" Lucy murmured quietly and sadly, causing the older mage to stop. "I don't know what this tower does, or who the Jellal person your friends mentioned is. But I do know that you helped me when I almost fell into darkness. I promised you that I would be there for you if you needed me. And I can see that you need our strength more than ever now. We're a team right? Doesn't that mean we need to always have each others backs? No matter what?"
There you have it Erza." Gray added in with a smile. "And you know Lucy, she's just as stubborn as you when it comes down to it so you might as well give up."
"Leave…" Erza replied again, her whole body tensing up as she forced out the word.
"E-Erza?" Lucy recoiled like she was struck and even Gray was beginning to look upset.
"This isn't like you Erza. Just tell us to shut up and follow like you always do. We'll lend you our strength. There's nothing wrong with feeling afraid once in a while! Even for you."
But both Fairy Tail mages where shocked to see that when the scarlet haired mage turned around there were tears falling from her right eye. "I'm sorry….I'm going to vanish from this world, whether I win or lose this battle…" She murmured quietly, Lucy's eyes going wide while Gray took a step forward in anger.
"What the hell does that mean?" He practically shouted.
"This is a future that I can't fight…as such…I will tell you everything that happened while I still exist. This is the tower of Heaven…also known as the R-System."
Lucy listened as Erza explained about her past, about how she was captured when she was young and forced into servitude. She talked about how despite the pain that accompanied every single day she still managed to make friends with fellow slaves, a boy named Jellal chief among them. She talked about how they had planned an escape, attempted it, but had failed and she had been taken and tortured as an example.
She talked about how she had finally had enough when Jellal had been taken in her place and she led the others in a revolt. She spoke about how the revolt had been going well up until the cult that had taken them summoned magical soldiers to put down the rebellion and how devastated they had been because of them. She talked about how she had been seconds away from death when another slave that they all called Grandpa Rob stood and took a blast meant for her. The old man apparently having been a mage of Fairy Tail back in the day, and that his sacrifice was what awakened her magic for the first time, allowing them to win the day.
But when Erza had gone to rescue Jellal from the torture chamber the boy had changed completely, like he was possessed by all the hatred and resentment that had gathered in the tower. Jellal had attacked her the moment she had talked about leaving; telling her that the tower needed to be completed and that he would keep the others there in order to complete the tower. But she was cast out and told that if she ever told anyone about the R-System that he would kill her and her friends. And with that he cast her out into the ocean where she eventually washed ashore and found her way to Fairy Tail.
"I…will be the one to fight Jellal." Erza quietly declared as tears fell freely from her right eye.
"Hold on Erza! That Zeref guy you mentioned…"
"Yes, I'm sure you've heard of him. He is the one who created both Deliora and Lullaby."
"Are you saying that Jellal is trying to revive that same Zeref?" Juvia clarified.
"I don't truly understand his objective, but according to Sho they are supposed to become the rulers in heaven once Zeref returns."
"Erza…" Lucy murmured quietly as she placed a hand on the older woman's shoulder, Erza smiling sadly as she did so.
"We have more in common than you thought right Lucy? We both know the horror of being behind bars."
Everyone stood in silence as they tried to process the story, but their thoughts were interrupted when Sho walked into the room.
"What's with that story Sister? Are you trying to get your friends' sympathy with that nonsense?"
"Sho…"
"What a load of crap! The truth was nothing like that! You're the one that blew up the boats to escape on your own! He told us that you went mad because you couldn't control your magic and he was the one who saved us from ending up on the bottom of the sea." Sho argued, his entire body shacking as he did so. "He told us that you tried to cast off everything from your past, us included, so you could enjoy your freedom!"
"And you believed this Jellal character without question?" Gray ridiculed. "Do you really think the Erza we all know could do something like that?"
"What would you know! You don't know anything about us! You don't know what we went through."
"I do." Lucy quietly refuted, all eyes turning to her. "And I can tell you that no one could ever wash away the past like you claim Erza tried to do. The human soul doesn't work like that. No matter what the horrors of your past stay with you, no matter where you go or what you do."
"Lucy…" Ezra replied quietly as Sho took a step back.
"Your saying…that it was all a lie? That…that Jellal used us for eight years and lied to us?"
"That's right Sho. Erza's telling the truth." A new voice answered, a voice that belonged to the metal jawed man.
"You!" Gray shouted as he prepared to attack, only stopping when Juvia held out her arm.
"Please wait dearest Gray, this man knew that he was attacking a body double back in the casino."
"I would expect nothing less from a former member of the Element four." Simon commented calmly as he turned to Sho. "I'm sorry Sho, but I had to bring everyone to this tower without rousing your suspicions."
"Wh-why would you…?"
"Sho…Jellal fooled us all. I could only follow along and wait till the time was right."
"Simon…you…" Erza said in a daze, the metal jawed man turning to smile at her.
"I've always believed in you Erza, for eight years straight…and it's truly good to see you again Erza." He said as he held out his hand in greeting, Erza shaking it without a moment's hesitation before hugging him.
"Why…why couldn't I believe in you like Simon?" Sho murmured quietly before screaming out and slamming his fist into the ground. "Damn it! What am I supposed to believe in now?"
"…I know this is a lot to take in after so long…but I will say this…over the past eight years I never once forgot about any of you." Erza said as she hugged the blonde boy. "I'm sorry Sho…I'm sorry I was so helpless."
"But that's not the case anymore." Simon commented as he turned back to the others. "I've been waiting for this day, a day when mighty wizards would gather here so we could finally bring down Jellal and end his madness." The shadow mage explained before turning to Lucy and bowing slightly. "And I would like to apologize to you Lucy of Fairy Tail, I didn't plan on attacking you back on the mainland but circumstances forced my hand."
"No it's alright; if anything I should apologize for coming at you with intent to kill."
Simon nodded at her return apology before glaring up at the ceiling. "Now we must go find the Salamander and go after Jellal.
But before anyone could move a telepathic communication sounded off in their minds. "Welcome one and all, to the Tower of Heaven." An arrogant male voice called out.
"That's…Jellal's voice!" Erza shouted as she jumped back up.
"Now that both sides have arranged their playing pieces we can finally begin the Heaven's Game. The rules are simple. I wish to use Erza as a living sacrifice in a ceremony to revive Zeref. In other words, once the door to heaven opens I win. But if you are able to prevent that then it's your win. However, that by itself won't make for a very fun game, so I have brought three more pieces onto my side."
"Three Warriors? Jellal never said anything about them before?" Simon cursed as he stared up at ceiling.
"The only way to reach me is through them…in other words this will be a three-on-eight battle royale. And one final note…there is a chance that the council will be firing their satilite square on this location. Even I don't know how much time is left, so you had best hurry to reach me before they destroy us all…now then let's begin." And with that the voice cut off, leaving everyone in confusion.
"They would really fire the Etherion just to destroy the tower?" Simon questioned incredulously.
"They would." Lucy answered grimly. "The council must maintain the order of the magic world; they cannot ignore things tainted by the darkness."
Erza opened her mouth to reply, but before she could say anything she vanished and reappeared in one of Sho's cards.
"I won't let anyone touch Sis! I'll defeat Jellal myself!" he shouted before running off before anyone could stop him.
"Stop! You can't defeat him by yourself!" Simon shouted as he and Gray ran after Sho.
Juvia was about to run after her darling as well, but was stopped when Lucy placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Wait. Simon and Gray can handle tracking down Sho. If the Etherion is being prepared to fire on this place then we need to defeat Jellal as fast as possible. We can't afford to as one group right now."
Juvia opened her mouth to argue but no words came out. Her love rival did have a point, and while she would have much rather been with her darling Gray she did feel bad about what she had done to the blonde mage in the past. "…Very well then, Juvia will search with you."
The two girls continued to race through the tower until they ended up in what appeared to be a massive empty drainage room, massive tubes leading higher up into the tower.
"Its strange that we haven't meet Natsu yet…I wonder if he engaged one of those three warriors." Lucy thought out loud.
"Juvia thinks that is likely, if his is anything like Gajeel then he would go after a fight first and foremost."
The conversation stopped at that however, as their ears were assaulted by the screeching noise of a lacrima guitar.
"That's annoying." Lucy declared as she covered her ears.
"…Juvia quite likes it." The rain woman declared, Lucy shrugging her shoulders in response.
The two mages waited while a strange looking man with longer hair than either girl put together walked down the middle tube, the guitar in his hands and his tongue hanging out of his mouth as he whipped his hair around and around.
"Hell yeah!" the man shouted as he finally finished. "This is a concert from hell! I'm with the Death's Head order assassin guild!"
"I take it you're one of the warriors Jellal spoke of then?" Juvia questioned, completely undisturbed by the man's strange attitude.
"That's right, I'm Vidaldus Taka, one of the Trinity Ravens." The man declared before shooting out his hair in order to attack, Lucy dodging out of the way while Juvia simply allowed it to pass right through her.
"Water Lock!" Juvia quietly chanted, water forming a orb around the man, trapping him with the same spell that had once trapped Lucy. But unlike with Lucy the man was somehow able to absorb all the water, his hair gleaming in the light as the magic vanished.
"Heh…got to admit you two are real babes!" Vidaldus declared as he studied Lucy and Juvia, both women shivering as he did so. "Eeny, meeny,miny,moe..Catch a girl by the toe…" He said as he finished, pointing at Juvia and laughing to himself. "It's decided! You're the succubus for today!" the assassin declared before playing his guitar again. "Rock of Succubus!" he shouted, purple magic shooting out of his guitar and wrapping around the water mage who started to scream in pain.
"Stop it! Stay out of my head!" She screamed as the magic continued to wrap around her and created a wall of smoke.
"Juvia!" Lucy shouted, trying to determine what was happening, but whatever the smoke was she couldn't see through it.
But inevitably the smoke cleared, and Lucy was surprised to see Juvia now dressed differently with skin just as white as Vidaldus.
"You're my slave now water woman."
"Hell! Hell! Hell! I'm gonna show you the greatest, and the worst, of hell!" Juvia shouted as she screamed like a wounded animal.
"…what did you do to Juvia Assassin?" Lucy questioned as she warily watched her former comrade, her bow drawn and at the ready.
"I turned her into a succubus slave of course!" Vidaldus screamed as he started to riff on his guitar again, Juvia yelling loudly in response. "But since the game wouldn't be fun if I turned you both into slaves so I guess I'll just enjoy a cat fight between two chicks!"
"I see…then all I have to do is destroy you to release her?" Lucy clarified, a pale white arrow appearing on her bow as she drew back the string.
"You can try…now get her succubus!" Vidaldus screamed out as he played his guitar, Juvia turing into water and rushing Lucy as he did so.
Lucy quicly ducked under the deluge of water, releasing but not firing her bow. She could attack Juvia, her arrows allowing her to directly attack her opponent's nervous system, but she couldn't bring herself to attack a comrade. Even if that comrade was currently trying to send her flying through the air.
"Water Slicer!" Juvia shouted, sending a blade of water flying out directly at Lucy who wasn't quite fast enough to dodge around the attack, a thin red line appearing on her arm where the blade struck.
Lucy grimaced as the pain coursed through her body. She could feel Nyneve pushing against her consciousness, wanting to be summoned and show her opponent the true wrath of the water, but once again Lucy couldn't help but hesitate. Nyneve already likely held a grudge for what happened back during Phantom and wouldn't hold back against the Rain woman.
But what do I do then? Lucy thought desperately as Juvia once again washed over her, clearly trying to drown her. It was while Lucy was thinking desperately for a way to win that she could hear a voice in her head.
"Lucy…Lucy…this thing…it isn't Juvia. Juvia doesn't want to hurt her friend. Is it…presumptuous of me to call us friends? Juvia's voice echoed in her head. I know that you're my love rival, but Juvia has come to love all of Fairy Tail! It seems so full of warmth…so full of love. Even when the rain is falling you are always there for each other. I never knew that someone could smile so much in a guild."
Juvia…Lucy thought in sadness, the water mages emotions traveling though their brief link. She could feel the rain woman's regret and sorrow at being controlled.
"Juvia was so close to being friends with everyone…but now…I guess Juvia really does bring misfortune wherever she goes."
I can feel her tears even in all this water.
Lucy was ejected from the water mage after that, the water mage rematerializing in the center of the room with a blade of water instead of an arm.
"This is the end!" She screamed as Lucy rose to her feet.
"You…don't need to worry Juvia…" she started, the water mage freezing at her words. "If Fairy Tail could accept someone like me…then they won't have a…problem with someone who cries for their friends." She declared, surprised to see tears forming in her controlled friends eyes.
"Heh, what a touching moment…finish her off already Juvia!" Vidaldus commanded, Juvia instantly responding by becoming a rapidly swirling mass of water.
Lucy knew what she had to do now, but she wasn't sure if Juvia could respond in kind to her feelings. Oh this is going to hurt. Lucy thought grimly as she readied herself for Juvia's charge and right at the last moment slammed her right hand into the chaotic waters. Almost instantly pain raced up her arm as the mass of water tore at her skin and popped her arm out of her socket, but Lucy had accomplished her goal, she had stopped Juvia.
"Lucy! What are you doing? You must get out of the way!" Lucy could hear the water mage screaming in her head but still she didn't remove her arm from the mass of water.
Juvia…I don't know if you can hear me but I need to try…I trust you, with my life if needed. Lucy thought, feeling Juvia's shock at her admission. Now…I have to ask you to trust me...please, I need your help.
"Of course Lucy…I trust you!" The water mage shouted in happiness, giving Lucy the access she needed for the spell to work. It was then that the magic of the two mages began to meld together, both girls feeling their magic, their very souls, fusing together for the briefest of moments as their magic combined .
Vidaldus watched in shock as both Juvia and Lucy began to glow with a bright blue white, like they were being illuminated from the inside. The light grew bright and brighter, focusing into Lucy's hand before Juvia herself reformed her body, her hand in Lucy's own and the glow only growing in response. "What the hell? What did that bitch do?"
The two mages now stood in a maelstrom of water, both smiling at each other before turning to glare at the assassin, their hands still clenched together as they pointed at the man.
"Unison Raid: Heaven's Stream!" Lucy shouted, the blue glow growing to its brightest point before unleashing the wrath of the raging sea at the rocker, who was promptly swallowed up by the raging waves. Juvia couldn't help but pant heavily, in awe as she watched the massive amounts of water fade away, leaving the bastard who had taken control of her unconscious on the floor. She couldn't believe it, not only did Lucy manage to pull her out of the man's control but she had even managed to use Juvia's own magic for an attack, something Juvia knew was called a Unison Raid and was considered by many to be something impossible.
"Are you ok Juvia?" she heard the blonde mage ask in concern.
"Y-yes…Juvia is…actually Juvia could use a break." The water mage admitted as she collapsed onto the floor.
"I see…" Lucy murmured as she looked up the tube the assassin had come from. "Then you should head back down to the bottom of the tower."
"Huh?"
"Well…it's just that I have strength to spare after that, and I'm concerned about the others." Lucy admitted bashfully as she started to make her way over to one of the pipes. "If you cannot fight anymore then the best option for you would be to return to the base of the tower and secure our escape route."
"I see…Juvia shall do so then. I will wish for your safety Lucy. Please be careful."
"Of course I will, but thank you." Lucy said as she nodded and started to climb up the path the assassin had come from, her legs vanishing into the tunnel.
Juvia waited until the person had completely disappeared before sighing and allowing the tension to flow out of her body. She had tried to hide it from the elemental mage but she couldn't help but feel somewhat terrified when faced with the innocent girl.
She had felt it…while they had been performing their unison raid their souls had connected in a way that Juvia hadn't thought possible. She had seen inside the girl's soul and had been absolutely terrified from what she had seen. She could feel an immense beast sleeping in the girl's body, a beast of rage and fury held chained and controlled only barely by a cold and cruel personality.
But even still…Juvia could feel the faintest warmth around her, like a flame that was trying its hardest not to go out. And it had been that flame that had called out to Juvia's soul and freed her from the control of the assassin mage.
"Juvia only hopes that the flame of her soul will be enough to survive the darkness of this tower."
Lucy moved through the tower at a steady pace, her right arm throbbing in pain with each step she took. She had used up more energy than she was willing to admit using a unison raid with someone who wasn't that close with her. She had to force the magic to meld properly and even that was exceedingly difficult.
But now she was making her way up the tower, to the top where she could feel two immense magical forces clashing.
It's likely Erza and this Jellal character. Their battle must have already started. I have to hurry! Lucy thought as she fought off her panic, fearing that once again she would be too late and unable to help her friends.
But Lucy's slow trek up the tower was interrupted when she happened to find Simon, who was badly hurt and resting against a window with a look of defeat on his face.
"Simon? What are you doing here? I thought everyone evacuated?"
"Lucy?" Simon clarified before chuckling. "I see…if the Salamander wasn't willing to leave then it makes sense that you wouldn't either. But at least now we won't face our end alone right?"
"What do you mean?"
"The Etherion is only seconds away from firing. There's no time to stop Erza and the Salamander nor can we escape outside of its range." The man declared as the world outside was covered in light."
"I see…I suppose I at the very least will get to see my mom again then." Lucy murmured as she closed her eyes and allowed the light to wash over her, a roar beyond anything she had ever heard pounding against her skull. Huh…so this is what dying is like…it's louder than I would've liked.
But contrary to what Lucy thought her world didn't end, instead the light faded and she now found herself standing in a tower of pure lacrima, a tower comprised entirely of Ethernano.
"What has…we're still alive? How?" Simon questioned out loud as he stared in shock at their surroundings.
"I'm not sure, I would guess that the tower somehow managed to absorb the magical energy of the Etherion and convert it." Lucy replied, trying to keep her dragon slayer instincts under control despite the fact that she was surrounded by such delicious looking Ethernano.
"Then…if we survived…"Simon started.
"Then it means that Natsu, Erza, and Jellal have as well." Lucy finished, nervous over the fact that she could no longer detect the magical energy of Erza or Natsu. The immense amount of Ethernano overriding her senses.
"We have to get up there! Erza and the Salamander will need our help! If this is the true form of the Tower of Heaven then that means that Jellal is ready to sacrifice Erza!"
"Your right, we have to hurry!" Lucy agreed as the two started to climb up the massive lacrima crystals.
Even with her still crippled right arm and the fact that the tower was shaking from impacts the two eventually found their way to the top of the tower and were greeted with a horrifying sight.
They could see Natsu, beaten down and barely able to stand with Erza standing right in front of him with her arms outstretched ready to intercept an absolutely terrifying spell of strange darkness gathered above a blue haired mans hands. A spell that seemed to be drawing light into it.
There's no time! Lucy thought in a panic, a thought that she was certain her iron jawed comrade was thinking at the same time.
"Heavenly body magic:…Altairis!" the blue haired man that Lucy could only assume was Jellal shouted before sending the sphere of darkness barreling towards her two teammates.
Lucy didn't think, she didn't have time for that, and instead poured all the magic she could into her legs and into her still working arm before launching forward at speeds she had never reached before. The world seemed to slow down around her as she landed in front of Erza, a shocked look on the scarlet haired mages face, and held out her left arm in an attempt to create a barrier.
But even before the sphere struck her hastily constructed defense Lucy knew it wasn't going to be enough, her already drained magical supplies not nearly enough to block such a powerful spell. And sure enough the barrier gave out after holding it back of a brief second, the orb of darkness hitting her open left palm with such force that her whole body went numb from the shock.
And then it was over, the sphere vanishing in an explosion of smoke and Ethernano. Lucy staggered backwards, trying desperately to remain conscious through the pain, before looking down at the damage.
And to her immense confusion she couldn't tell how much damage had been done to her hand, as there wasn't a hand there anymore to inspect.
"Oh…that…hurt." Lucy managed to stutter as her legs finally gave out on her and causing her to collapse backwards onto the crystal ground.
"L…Lucy?" She could hear Erza confirm breathlessly, clearly still confused about the situation.
But Natsu was much quicker on the uptake. "LUCY!" He shouted as he rushed to her side, Erza and Simon following a few seconds behind.
"Oh? So there were still pests scurrying about my tower?" Jellal taunted as he crossed his arms and chuckled to himself.
"Lucy…oh god Lucy…why?" Erza pleaded as she inspected the damage along with Lucy. The spell had completely eradicated most of her left arm which now ended around her elbow. There was no blood, her Weave going into an emergency activation and using up nearly all of the remaining drops of magic she had in order to stop close up the wounds, but the damage was done.
"I just…I just wanted to protect my family…I…I couldn't do that before and…I was terrified of loosing you all again." Lucy started to murmur to the ghosts that were fading in and out of existence around her. Her mind slipping into a brief insanity due to pain.
"Humph, what a foolish girl. At the end of the day your sacrifice won't mean a single thing wretch." Jellal continued to taunt, his magical levels rising as he prepared to attack.
"Shut up!" Natsu screamed as he charged forward and smacked the man in the face, sending him flying backwards with surprising force.
"N-Natsu…"Lucy quietly murmured as she watched in shock as Natsu broke off a piece of the Ethernano and bit into it, his body glowing blue in response. "You can't Natsu…that's poison to anyone but a chaos slayer."
And just like she expected the blue fluid of pure magic escaped from the fire dragon slayers mouth as his body started to reject the magical energy, veins appearing all over his body as the wild magic coursed through his system.
"Natsu! You can't eat that! IT has more than just fire in it!" Erza warned louder as she bandaged Lucy's stub, tears falling from her right eye all the while.
But just when it looked like Natsu was at his end the blue energy around his body began to twist into flames, flames in the shape of a roaring dragon.
H-he actually did it…? Lucy questioned incredulously as her vision began to swim, dizziness threatening to pull her into unconsciousness. But at the same time she could look away from the somehow beautiful sight of Natsu covered in brilliant flames, the skin around his eyes looking almost like scales.
And before anyone could figure out what he had done Natsu had launched off like a rocket, striking Jellal on the chin and knocking him into the air.
"It's because of you! You've hurt my partner and made Erza cry. I made a promise! I will take them back with me!" Natsu screamed as Jellal used his magic to fly through the sky.
"Impudent boy! You'll never catch me at these speeds." Jellal mocked, but clearly underestimated the power of a dragon slayer boosted by Ethernano, as Natsu was on him in a second and delivering a powerful punch directly to his gut.
"Damn you! I won't be defeated here!" Jellal screamed as he knocked away Natsu and swiped his hands though the air and formed the Abyss Break glyph. "I will create a world of freedom! I am the chosen one! Together Zeref and I will create a land of true freedom!"
"Stop Jellal! You would destroy the tower that you spent so many years to create?" Erza called out, placing her body in between the insane blue haired mage and her injured teammate, who was beginning to silently cry as she looked down at what remained of her arm.
"I'll just create another in half the time! Zeref's time will come!" he declared, but before he could cast the spell his eyes widened in pain and his concentration faltered, the spell rune vanishing like smoke as he began to fall back down.
And that was just the opportunity that Natsu would need, as the fire dragon slayer was flying up at the man with surprising speed. "You'll never know true freedom so long as you let that ghost constrain you!" Natsu shouted as his flames formed the shape of a dragon around him. "Free yourself Jellal!"
And with that final line and a roar of pure rage Natsu stuck the mage in the face, sending him careening into the floor with enough force to knock him unconscious.
Lucy and Erza watched as Natsu slowly stood from the crater that had formed from his landing, the pink haired slayer turning around to smile at them for a brief second before beginning to collapse.
"Natsu!" Erza shouted as she rushed forward and caught the slayer before he could land face first on the crystal floor. Smiling as she held him close. "You truly are amazing." She commented with a heartfelt smile.
"Is it…is it over?" Lucy managed to force out as she looked at the spot where Jellal had landed, pain still shooting up the mangled remains of her arm.
"Yes, it appears so." Simon confirmed from behind her, where he was currently supporting her. "Thank you Lucy of Fairy Tail. If that attack had hit Erza then…"
"I-Its ok...I-I wanted to save my family." Lucy managed to force out in between gasps.
"Lucy…how could you do that?" Erza questioned as she walked back over to the place where Lucy was resting, an absolutely miserable expression on her face as she stared down at Lucy's left side.
"Is it…really that surprising?" Lucy questioned as she sat up slightly. "You were willing to do the same for Natsu right? I just didn't want to see either of you hurt."
Lucy could see Erza struggling to accept her reasoning, but whatever she was going to say was lost when the tower below them began to glow and pillars of pure energy shot through the ground.
"What's happening?" Simon questioned as he lifted Lucy over his shoulder.
"The tower…all the Ethernano is starting to break free." Lucy explained, her knowledge of Ethernano greater than most.
"Then we need to leave, the others should be still outside."Erza added as she lifted Natsu over her shoulder, the two beginning to run through the exploding tower.
But as they continued Lucy knew what was happening, and that there was no way they could get out of the range of the explosion in time.
But how do we stop a…a mass of Ethernano? Lucy started to question, before arriving at an answer that should have been obvious but her pain addled mind had forgotten.
Once again Lucy had a choice to make, a choice that wasn't really all that much of a choice when it came down to it.
Lucy waited for Simon to stop, likely trying to figure out where to go, before pushing away from the massive man.
"Lucy? What's wrong?" Erza called out as she turned around with a confused look on her face.
"…We can't escape at this rate. The tower will still explode and take us all down with it. The only choice…is to try to contain the blast."
"But how…" Simon started to ask as the winds picked up around them before a new figure was standing by Lucy's side. A brown haired man wearing furs and smiling sadly at her.
"It's actually simple…I'm going to eat the tower." Lucy explained as she cut off the feeling of pain in her body, wanting to enjoy her last few minutes of clarity.
"That's insane Lucy! I will stop it. I can…"Erza started to refute but was cut off when a sphere of wind encased her and Simon.
"I'm sorry Erza. But if I have the choice to sacrifice myself for those who stand in the light I can't waste it." Lucy explained with a sad smile before looking at the still unconscious Natsu. "Erza…can you tell the others that I'm truly grateful for everything they did for me? That I had never expected to be so…accepted for what I've done and that Fairy Tail made me feel like I could truly live again? I would appreciate it."
"Damn it Lucy! Don't…don't do this!" Erza screamed as she pounded against the wind barrier but to no avail, Anu's magical strength far greater than her weakened state.
But to everyone's surprise it was then that the pink haired slayer chose to wake up. Natsu's eyes slowly opening to stare in confusion at Lucy.
"…Luce…? What's…?"
"Natsu…I'm sorry." Lucy half cried as she stood on the other side of the barrier, the tower beginning to shake more and more as it drew closer to blowing. "Thank you for bringing me to my home. I was….happy." she admitted as she placed her hand on the barrier, Natsu finally realizing what was happening and slamming his fists against the wind along with Erza.
"Wait Luce…Stop…stop Luce!"
"But if someone as dark as me can save all of you…so that you all can return to the place you belong…then I will gladly give myself…goodbye Natsu… and thank you."
"LUCY, DAMN IT LUCYY-…!"Natsu started to scream but was cut off when the wind picked up around them, carrying them through one of the holes in the wall and out to sea.
"…Are you certain about this Lucy?" Anu asked as he turned back to his master with a bitter expression on his face.
"Yes, please carry all those who remain inside the tower to safety."
"…All of them?" Anu reconfirmed confusing Lucy for a brief second before she followed his gaze to the crater that stood behind them.
"…Yes Anu, all of them." Lucy confirmed, watching as another twister rose out of the crater that Jellal had been pounded into and disappeared into the sky.
"Lucy, you understand that if you do this…"
"I won't survive, I know. It was a miracle that I lived through Phantom to beginning with but if I force the seal open here and now there won't be a second chance." Lucy confirmed before curtsying to her Elemental. "Thank you Anu, our time together was brief but I enjoyed it immensely. Please give my regards to the others if you would."
"Gladly…it has been an honor to serve you Lucy of Fairy Tail." Anu returned with a bow before vanishing in a green glow, leaving Lucy alone in the collapsing tower.
"Well everyone…it looks like I'll be joining you sooner than I expected…I'm sorry." And with her final goodbyes done Lucy took began to take a deep breath, the deepest breath she had ever taken in her life, her magically infused lungs drawing every ounce of Ethernano in her surroundings. The rampart energy that had been shooting off in all directions began to bend towards her mouth, the beams of pure blue energy swirling together as they passed her lips.
The pain was immediate and excruciating, like having someone plunging blades into every inch of her skin. But still Lucy did not stop. There were people, loved ones, who were relying on her and she would not fail…not again.
Faster and faster the Ethernano poured into her mouth, her own body beginning to glow with the same bright blue light that made up her surroundings as her physical form began to break down. But even still the Elemental wizard did not slow down her consumption of the raw magic. There was no longer pain in her remaining arm, or anywhere else for that manner, and in fact she was beginning to feel warm and sleepy despite the chaotic energies that were tearing her apart from the inside out.
And when Lucy's vision began to fade to white she couldn't help but smile, knowing that she had finally managed to save the people her hands could reach.
Natsu watched in horror, tears falling from his eyes, as the Tower of Heaven transformed into a ball of whitish blue magical energy.
Gray, Juvia, and Happy had all been filled in on what had happened and despite hearing the high pitched wailing of his blue partner and the muffled sobs of his rival Natsu couldn't tear his eyes away from the ball of magic.
He had failed her, he had failed his partner. Loke had told him about this but not only could he not keep her from maiming herself in order to protect him now she was willing to sacrifice everything for their lives.
Damn it…it's just like with Pops…why does everyone important to me vanish?
But Natsu's mind instantly focused when he noticed a change in the ball of light. It was no longer expanding outwards and was instead beginning to collapse in on itself. But not only that, the magic was taking a shape, a shape that caused Natsu's breath to catch in his throat.
There was no longer a sphere of pure magic racing outward in all directions. No, now a dragon rose out of the water, a dragon of pure light with its head raised to the heavens with fire of blue pouring from its maw.
And then, just as fast as it had come, it was gone. Leaving nothing but waves in its wake. Not even a hint of his blonde partners scent remaining in the air.
You know, after finishing up this chapter I came to the sudden realization that i might be a tad bit cruel. to both my characters and my readers...eh, oh well. Until next time! (PS: I promise this is gonna be the last cruel chapter for awhile, at least until after Edolas)