Chapter 21
{Battle Time… hope you like this next chapter. I am SO overjoyed that you guys like the story so far. I hope this next chapter meets your expectations. Enjoy…}
The Masked Spirit (Lucy) POV
I looked to my right and see Rufus running down the path to us. I look to Natsu and whisper, "So Sabertooth is here…" He nodded his head and looked to Rufus; I wonder where Malinda is right now. I hope she isn't with Minerva. "He copied my magic already…" I smirk as Rufus lit his fist on fire. I walked up the path, waiting for Rufus to punch me when he got there. Right when he was in the distance of hitting me he lifted his fist in the air, ready to punch me. I caught his hand in mine, blocking him from going any further. His whole body burst into flames, putting more pressure in his attack. All the energy he was putting into this attack made more fire, putting even more pressure into the attack.
In my other hand I summoned Guardians Staff, the red gem spun as it ate at his fire. Soon Rufus had no fire surrounding him, he stared at me confused and bewildered. I stepped back a little and swung my staff in the middle of his stomach, sending him through the path again making him fly through multiple stone walls.
"I've almost mastered my spells…" I say while turning back to a stunned Natsu. "How did you take that attack with just your hand?" I smile and lift my arm up, "These cloths were made by the Celestial Spirit King. Their called King's Cloth and they help me hit or defend myself with much more power. I can take pretty much any attack with these on without even hurting myself…" He then pointed to Guardians Staff that was still in my hand, "And what's that?" I smirked and said, "I used this to beat up Guildarts…" He gulped.
"Wont Rufus copy your magic as well?" Natsu asked as we see Rufus try and stand up out of all the broken stones. "My magic can't be copied…" His eyes widen and he looks at me, "Only I can use the magic, Natsu. No one else can copy it nor master the magic. Only I can; no one else." He frowned then asked, "Well Rufus can copy magic's, and can't he do the same with yours?" I frown and faced him, "Natsu, I just said 'no one can copy my magic' So Rufus can't copy my magic… No one can for that matter…" the green and yellow gem spun and I tapped the ground with the staff two times; it then created cracks in the ground that led to Rufus.
The cracks surrounded him and vines grew out of them, the vines wrapped around Rufus and lightning burst out of them. I let it stay that way for about ten seconds then lifted my staff off the ground, which the lightning stopped and the vines retreated back to the cracks.
"This training camp will help me master the spells in the 'King's Book'…" I said as I turned back to a stunned Natsu. I frowned, already knowing what he was going to ask, "You see the gems floating in the staff?" I ask him while pointing to the top where all the gems were. He nodded so I continued, "Well each gem represents an element… Fire is the red gem, water is the blue gem, earth is the green and yellow gem, and wind is the orange gem…" He stared at me confused, "But you used lightning in that last attack, how?" I point to the green and yellow gem, "Earth can create many things, such as lightning and earth quakes. The yellow in the gem represents lightning." I then point to the blue one, "For example the blue one, it can make water and ice since both has the same element."
He nodded and looks around and I dismiss Guardians Staff; I take out one of my black keys and summon him, "Open gate of Mercury, Hermes" Natsu turns to me confused, there was a bright light and Hermes stood in front of us. I look at Natsu and explain, "Hermes is the god of travel and thievery… he can show us where the exit is…" He smiled and stared at Hermes, "Hermes, can you show us where he exit is?" He nodded his head and starts running full speed to the right.
I jump forward and ran after him, Natsu not far behind. I soon catch up to Hermes and follow him to the exit. After a few turns here and there, we made it to the exit. Makarov was there with huge eyes, I turned to Hermes, "Thank you Hermes. You may go now." He bowed and said, "It was my pleasure, Spirit. And good luck in these competitions." I smiled as light surrounded him and he disappeared. I looked around to see that we were at the entrance to the halls of the arena. The maze must have lead us here.
"You're here so early, how in the world did you get here so fast?" Makarov asked. Natsu pointed to me, Master smiles, "Well I guess that's fine, you may wait for the rest of your group here." I nod and lean against one of the stone walls. Natsu crossed his arms and walked in front of me, "You have been gone for 5 months. Where have you been?" I lower my head, "I scared Zeref away by chopping his arm off." I whispered, Natsu eyes widen and his arms fell to his sides. "It took a day in the spirit world, but the time difference between the celestial world and earth changed so it was really three months here. For two months I trained on the island and tried to master the spells in the King's Book." Natsu's eyes narrowed, "You were here for two months and you never tried to look for me?"
I leaned a little bit closer to the wall but Natsu moved some more towards me, I gulped and nodded my head 'yes'. "But you said you would come back… you promised." I stared at him, and whispered, "I never said I would look for you right away…" He slammed his arm to the wall next to me, "But I worried about you… I missed you…" Tears were forming in his eyes; I reached my hands to his face and placed them on either side of it. "The Spirit King ordered me to master the spells in that book; I couldn't see you until I mastered them…"
He reached for my mask and I let him take it off this time. My hood covered my face, so I don't need to worry about everyone staring at me. "But I thought you said you are close to mastering the spells, you haven't finished mastering them, yet you're here." I nodded my head, "It's a training camp, Natsu. I can master them here. I explained to the Spirit King and he let me sign up for the Training Games, he said it would be good for training and mastering the spells. You would have to wait longer if I hadn't signed up for this training camp. And I was kind of eager to see you again." Natsu smiled and I wiped his tears with my thumbs, he slowly leaned forward trying to close the gap between our lips.
"What are you doing, Spirit?" I hear Draco ask. I yelp and shove Natsu away before his lip ever met mine; I look to Draco and say, "Nothing…" I then grab my mask that fell to the ground and franticly put it back on. She slowly walks up to me and stares at me then to Natsu, who was frowning with his arms crossed. "Okay…" I gulped and changed the subject, "You finished pretty fast. Did you run into anyone?" Draco nodded her head, "I ran into these boys named Eve Tearm and Hibiki Lates." My eyes widen, so Blue Pegasus are in these competitions as well. "Whoever they are were big flirts…" I laughed, "Eve and Hibiki are always like that…"
"You know Eve and Hibiki?" I hear someone ask behind me. I look over my shoulder to see Jenny Realight. I gulp and turn to her, "I only heard… about them… I have never met them… though…" I sighed as she nodded in understanding. She turned to Natsu and sadly smiles, "Hello Natsu, I haven't seen you in a while. How are you doing?" He smiles and replies, "I'm doing great?" She nods and looks down to the ground, "I haven't seen you since… Lucy passed away. No one has…" My eyes widen and I step back a bit. "I'm just surprised to see you in this competition…" She said and looked up, "I'm sorry about what happened to Lucy… Everyone is…"
Natsu glanced at me in the corner of his eye and lowered his head, "Thanks Jenny…" She smiles and pats his head, "I'm glad you're doing better. I heard pretty much every one in Fairy Tail changed when she died…" He nodded his head; I turned around to Draco and lowered my head, "Everyone misses her… it was a shock to everyone when we heard she passed away… I know she will forever be in our hearts…" I lifted my head up and see Makarov giving me a worried stare. I smiled, even though he couldn't see me he understood. I looked up the path to see two figures walking up to us.
It was Sting Eucliffe and Rogue Cheney; Draco turned around and saw the pair too. Sting walked up beside me, staring at me. "The Masked Spirit' was it?" I slowly nod my head, by this time Natsu was glaring at the twins. Sting smirked, "I have heard rumors about you…" I blinked a few times and glanced at Natsu. He seemed to know what this rumor was; I turn back to Sting and ask, "What is this rumor you talk about?" Rogue laughed and I turn to him, "People say you were the one who killed Acnologia. Is that true?" I smirked and took a step towards him, "I don't know. Is it true?" His eyes widen, he opened his mouth but nothing came out.
"Hmmm… well I guess it's false…"Lahar would tell everyone if he wanted to. If it's a rumor then it should stay that way if Lahar made it that way. "Who are you?" Draco asked them with a glare, Sting looked down at her and frowned, "I'm Sting and that's Rogue…" Draco frowned, closed her eyes, and crossed her arms. "Well Sting and Rogue, you shouldn't believe everything you hear…" Stings and Rogues jaws dropped. I grabbed Draco's shoulder and pulled her next to me.
"I thought I was going to be the first one here. I guess you beat me, Spirit." I hear someone say behind Sting and Rogue. They stepped to the side to see Malinda; she stared at the twin Dragon Slayers. "Sting and Rogue?" Their eyes widen and they nod their heads, she smiles, "I have heard about you two through my brother and niece." They look at each other and stare at Malinda, confused. She smirks and says, "I'm Minerva's aunt…" Both Stings and Rogues jaws drop. Jenny stepped up to her and said, "You do look somewhat like her…"
"Does Minerva know your here, Malinda?" I ask, she shook her head 'no', "I haven't seen her; I don't know where she is…" I look around for the rest of Winged Hearts but was surprised to see Lyon Vastia and Jura Neekis, so the last team here is Lamia Scale. They walked from the opposite side; Lyon was the first one to say something when they got to us. "Natsu… I am surprised that Fairy Tail joined these games…" Natsu frowned and asked, "Why are you surprised?" Lyon's and Jura's eyes widened, Lyon glanced at Jura in the corner of his eyes and looked to the ground. "Well ever since Lucy died… we haven't seen Fairy Tail for about a year…" I gulped and look down, "We are sorry for your loss, Natsu…" Jura said while bowing.
I glance at Natsu and see a sad expression on his face, "Natsu?" I hear Sting ask behind me, I turn around and see a confused Sting. "Lucy's dead?" Rogue asked, Natsu looked to the ground and glanced at me. Lyon looked up and said, "Lucy died on a mission the Magic Council asked Fairy Tail to do..." I look over at Makarov and see him biting his lip, I beg him with my eyes to do something.
"There are waiting rooms in the halls of this arena. Each room has your guilds emblem on it. Please look for your room and wait there for the rest of your guild to finish…" Makarov said to us, everyone looked to him and nodded their heads. I walk through the halls and look for our guilds emblem with Natsu, Draco, and Malinda. I smiled as I see Fairy Tails and Winged hearts room were next to each other. I turn to Natsu and give him a hug, "I will see you later, Natsu…" He wrapped his arms around me and whispered, "I'll be waiting for you, then." I smiled and let go of him. I grabbed onto the nob of our door but someone said my name before I even opened it, "Lucy?" I turn to the direction where my name came from and see Laxus and Gajeel.
I smiled and turned to them, "Hello…" I said joyfully. They smiled and walked to me, Gajeel patted my back and Laxus ruffled my head, "I haven't seen you in 5 months, where have you been?" Gajeel asked, I laughed awkwardly, "If you ask Natsu he can tell you…" They nod their heads and start to walk to their waiting room; they wave good-bye and say, "See you in the arena…" I smiled and waved as well. I opened the door to my waiting room and waited for Cole, Lilian, and Blacksmith.
I sat down on one of the couches and stared at the door, Blacksmith came in soon after I did. Lilian and Cole came in together. They closed the door behind them but it soon burst open again. Erza stood in the door frame staring at me; she smiled and picked me up in a huge hug. I giggled and wrapped my arms around her. "I knew you would come back!" She said and I patted her back. She grabbed my shoulders and I let my hands fall to my sides as she pushed me away so she could see me. "Natsu told me you have been here for 2 months…" I gulped but she smiled, "He also told me why you didn't come back to Fairy Tail…" I softly laugh.
"The games are starting…" I hear someone say behind Erza, I look over her shoulder and see Gray. He smiled once he saw me, "Hey Lucy. Long time no see!" I laughed and Erza walked to the door. Gray hugged me and I hugged him back. I let go of him and he walked to the door, "I didn't expect to see you here in the Training Games…" He said, I shrugged my shoulders.
"I wanted to see Fairy Tail; the only way was by joining the Training Games." Someone patted my back and I look to my left, "We better get going…" Blacksmith said, I nodded and walked to the door and met Gray and Erza. We walked out the door and waved good-bye as we walked down opposite paths. I heard Elfman yell, "You're a man Lucy!" I laugh and hear Draco mumble under her breath, "She is a woman not a man…" We walked to one of the entrances to the center of the arena. By the time we arrived at the entrance we could hear the crowd shouting, and it sounded like the time we were at the Grand Magic Games.
"In 5th place is Blue Pegasus…" We hear cheers come from the crowd above; I turn to Blacksmith and ask, "What place are we in?" He shrugs his shoulder "I don't know, I guess we will find out soon…" I nod my head and turn back to the entrance, "In 4th place is Lamia Scale…"
"In 3rd place is Fairy Tail…" a loud roar came from the crowd above us. "In 2nd place is Sabertooth…" My eyes widen when our name wasn't called. Does that mean… "And in 1st place is Winged Hearts." We slowly walk out of the entrance, the whole arena fell silent. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
If what Sting told me was true, then everyone thinks I was the one who killed Acnologia. I look at Sabertooth and see a bewildered Minerva. She slowly walked up to us and stopped in front of Malinda, she then asked, "What are you doing here?" Malinda smiled, "I'm in the Training Games. I am a member of Winger Hearts, Minerva…" Minerva looked at all of us and stopped at me, she looked from me to Malinda then back to me. Malinda grabbed her shoulders, "I know your father will probable yell at me after this… but I'm here for training not competition." Minerva looked up at Malinda and frowned.
Malinda pushed Minerva and turned her around so she faced Sabertooth. "You should go back to your group, Minerva…" She nodded and slowly walked to her group. Rufus was there glaring at me; he had bandages wrapped around his head, arms, and legs. I gulped and stepped a little back. There were only five in the group: Sting, Rufus, Rogue, Minerva, and Orga.
"I will pick from a jar that will be competing against each other." Yajima said as he walked in the middle of the arena, two big glass bowls raised out of the ground. I crossed my fingers as Yajima put his hand in a bowl and pulled out a piece of paper. He opened it slowly and looked up, "Jura Neekis will battle against…" I sighed but my breath was caught in my throat as he said the next name, "The Masked Spirit'…"
{Hoped you liked this chapter. The next chapter will be Lucy and Jura battling against each other. Please tell me how you like this story and don't forget to review!} :D