Hey guys! I'm back! I'm sorry it's been a while. School's been crazy and gymnastics season started so I've been super tired. Anyway, this is another kind of filler chapter just to kind of introduce what's going to happen in the next chapter. I'm sorry if this isn't my best, I had writer's block with this. ALSO THERE ARE MENTIONS OF TORTURE IN THE SECOND HALF TO SHOW WHAT EVELYN AND NOW NATSU ARE GOING THROUGH SO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO. Anyway enjoy!
Fairy Tail's mansion location in Era had been buzzing with activity since five in the morning. Gray was still monitoring Era's prison and keeping tabs on Natsu and Evelyn's whereabouts. Meanwhile, everyone else was crowded around holographic blueprints with various drawings on it.
"I still say we should wait," Erza stated and everyone glared at her.
"We've pulled off crazier stuff than this before Erza," Sting glanced at her and Erza's eye twitched. "Besides, the longer we wait, the more trouble Natsu's going to get in to."
"I agree with Sting," Gray called from where he was seated. "All of us know that Natsu's impulsive and he's in a situation where if he does anything stupid he can get killed."
"He's right Erza," Rogue concurred. "And don't forget, Evelyn's been there for a year. We know she's alive, but we don't know how long she'll last. I've heard horror stories about what goes on in Era's solitary confinement ward."
"All of us have," Wendy nodded her head in agreement. "I say we go as soon as we can."
"Very well then," Erza dropped her head and sighed. "Gray, are you confident you can override the security system long enough for us to sneak in and sneak out?"
"Yeah, I can unlock prison cells from a remote location so that won't be a problem." Off to the side lists of numbers were crawling along the hologram and Gray looked at them quickly. "Once we get the cells unlocked, the most time I can give you is a seven to ten minute window before the security system comes back online."
"I think we should call in backup," Lucy voiced and Erza nodded her approval.
"I'll call Gajeel and some of the others to come here now."
"Do you think you can get Jellal to come? It probably won't work but can you try?"
"I can talk to him, I can't make any promises." And with that the redhead walked out of the kitchen and into a bedroom to start making phone calls.
Lucy decided she needed energy so she wandered over to the cabinet and pulled out a mug for tea. "Do any of you want tea?" There was a chorus of agreement and she smiled. Peppermint tea was soothing, so after she heated up the water, she dropped a peppermint teabag in each mug. Lucy could hear Erza talking in one of the rooms but she couldn't hear what she was saying.
"So are all the plans made yet?" Wendy asked as she nursed her mug of tea.
"For the most part," Gray said, his eyes never leaving the holographic display in front of him. "I mean, I think we figured out a way to get them in and out since I can override the system for a little bit. I just think we need more people incase we're not fast enough."
"I could call in some of the others from Saber," Sting suggested. "Yukino and Minerva would be more than happy to help. Maybe Rufus and Orga too."
"I'll go call them now." Rogue left the room dialing a number on his phone.
"Do you think they'll come?" Wendy asked her older cousin.
"Of course they will," Sting ruffled her blue hair. "They're always up for a good fight." Erza walked back into the room with a not-happy expression. "What happened Erza?"
"Jellal isn't answering and Gajeel and Levy won't get here until nightfall because they're running a small job right now. Where did Rogue go?"
"He's calling Minerva, Yukino, Rufus, and Orga to see if they'll come," Gray answered. "Do you think we could ask Lamia and Pegasus too? With the amount of times we bailed them out of trouble they should come and help us."
"That's an excellent idea Gray," Erza nodded. "Would you like to call Lyon and ask him?"
"Would I like to? No, not really. Will I because I have to? Sure, why not," Gray muttered before typing in a command and a video screen popped up in the air.
"Hello Gray," Lyon answered within a matter of seconds.
"Hi Lyon," Gray responded with forced enthusiasm. "Would you mind helping us out?" Gray looked like he was bracing himself for whatever his cousin's response was going to be.
"You need my help, do you?" Lucy could see why Gray was trying to control himself. He was wearing a smug smirk and had an arched eyebrow as if he was proud that he was being asked for help. "What do you need my help with?"
"We're trying to break Natsu and Evelyn out of prison," Erza broke in, giving Gray a break. "We finally found her and Natsu got arrested. We have a way to get them out but it involves a limited amount of time to safely get them out. Extra help would be nice if we don't get out in time."
"I'll ask Jura and Chelia but I believe we'll be able to come and help. If you're in Era it'll only take us an hour or so to get there."
"Excellent, we'll see you then. And thank you again." The screen went black and Gray punched in another number.
"This one's for Blue Pegasus. Having Hibiki working with me would make things a lot easier," Gray said, his eyes never leaving the screen. Lucy turned back to her tea and watched as Ichiya answered. This time it was Erza who looked like she was trying to control herself.
"Hello my comrades, can I help you?"
"Is Hibiki there?" Gray asked, stopping Erza from having to reply. "I really need to talk to him." Erza breathed a sigh of relief when Ichiya complied with minimal weirdness.
"Hello Gray." Hibiki Lates, the technology and communication expert from Blue Pegasus appeared on the video feed wearing a tux with his hair gelled to match what was considered 'hot' at the moment. "What's up?"
"We need your help. We finally found Evelyn and Natsu wound up and got himself arrested and they're in the solitary confinement ward in Era. I have a way to hack the system to get them out but actually getting out will be a problem. I can only override the system for five minutes. Would you be willing to help?" Hibiki rested his chin on his hand and looked like he was doing calculations in his head.
"If I use Christina I can get there within an hour."
"That'd be great, thank you Hibiki," Erza said and they hung up.
As preparations and plans were made, Lucy couldn't help but feel a dull ache of worry at what Natsu and Evelyn were going through.
MENTIONS OF TORTURE ARE AFTER THIS LINE BREAK. YOU WON'T REALLY MISS ANYTHING IF YOU DECIDE TO SKIP IT.
Natsu woke up with blurry vision and a pounding headache. Up above him was white and everything around him was white. He sat up and massaged his head. Memories of last night had come into his mind and the anger that he felt at seeing his sister came flooding back. He punched the wall out of frustration and then winced, knowing a bruise was going to form there. From the corner of his eye he saw a warden dressed in white typing something into a holographic keyboard when the two made eye contact, Natsu hissed. Of course it had to be Lahar. He pressed a button and Natsu was about to laugh when a jolt of electricity shot up his spine and made him go limp on his bed trying to catch his breath.
"Natsu Dragneel," Lahar's voice was projected over a speaker built into the wall and camouflaged to be impossible to locate. "We've been waiting for you for a long time."
"I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you," Natsu fired back. "Fairy Tail's planning how to get Evelyn and I back as we speak. We're about to give you hell." In retaliation he was shocked again. This time the voltage seemed higher and he collapsed on the bed.
"We shall see Mr. Dragneel. I wouldn't hold out too much hope. No one escapes from Era's solitary confinement ward; it's even referred to now as the Palace of Perdition. Enjoy your stay." With a cruel smirk, Lahar was gone.
Evelyn had started shaking and screaming in the middle of the night. It was another one of those fucking nightmares that the Era jail wardens had conjured up. "How are you feeling today Ms. Dragneel?" Lahar asked, knowing perfectly well she didn't have the energy to reply. "I hope you had a pleasant sleep." Evelyn glared, but she couldn't do much else.
"Where's my brother?" she croaked. Evelyn hadn't used her voice for much besides screaming, crying, and begging to be left alone. Due to the disuse it was scratchy and not like her voice at all.
"You never saw your brother," Lahar replied calmly. "He's dead remember? We had him publicly executed. I believe we showed you that. Do you need to watch it again?" Her limp black hair flew as she furiously shook her head.
"No, please don't." She was begging and desperate, just how Lahar liked to see her. Seeing someone who had once been strong and now was too weak to move was satisfying. "I'll behave, just don't show that to me again."
"Good girl," Lahar praised. "You've been well-behaved for the past three days so I'll have someone bring you food and water." He chuckled seeing her not responding because she had fallen back asleep. As he walked out he made a mental note to have someone send more nightmares or hallucinations her way. He couldn't have her being too comfortable, after all.
Yes I know I'm making Lahar kind of an asshole but I never really liked him so...