This is the last chapter before the finale, try to piece what will happen in the end.
Lucy was being led somewhere inside the castle grounds, she knew she was underground. She tried slowing down her pace, but each time she would, Shion would only tighten her grasp. Lucy then came to a halt when they arrived at a wall. The priestess then turned a light post and the wall started to come down. It was a secret entrance into her sanctuary. Behind the wall stood an entrance to the dungeon. The site alone seemed very daunting; she didn't want to go inside. Shion opened the doors and once both of them were inside Shion threw Lucy on the floor.
"Welcome Lucy to my heaven", said Shion.
The room was poorly lit with torches and dried blood on the floor.
"What is this", asked Lucy in a nervously.
"Don't worry Lucy this will all start to make sense very soon", said the priestess, as she laughed maniacally.
Lucy was not going to wait and find out; she knew that she was in danger if she didn't do anything soon. As Lucy was going to pull out a key, the priestess started to laugh.
"Silly little Lucy, that won't work in here. All magic is cut off in here; well maybe I shouldn't say all magic", said the priestess as she continued to laugh.
"I don't understand Shion, whatever you got yourself into, I can help, let's just get out of here", said Lucy worriedly.
"Ha ha ha", Cackled the priestess, "You still don't get it Lucy, I've been the one organizing these random murders, Yukino, Cronus, and even the previous game master, all to become…..IMORTAL".
Lucy started walking away from her former friend.
"You see, since I've been a little girl I been cursed. See although everyone believes I can perform Earth manipulation magic like I have done this entire time, my true power is much darker. People have always said that I was born with great magic, but I just have thought of it as a curse. I was born with the ability to see into the future, but this gift comes with a price, it shortens my life. As a priestess of this country I should be able to see into the future, but for some reason I only saw death. I would only see how my friends would die, every person who I became close to, I would see their death. Till this day my visions have never been wrong. As a little girl I was always shunned, and most people always kept their distance. Knowing my true ability, people always left me alone in the dark, and then later imprisoned me in this castle, never allowing me to breach the castle walls. See this is the burden that the Pergrande kingdom priestess bears, and one day I had vision. I saw numerous deaths, and my freedom. You see Lucy, I have always feared death knowing it will come quick. Si I'm going to destroy Peragrande Kingdom, become immortal and finally be free", said Shion.
"How do you plan to become immortal", asked the celestial mage.
"I'm glad you asked Lucy, seeing how I've been locked up in here my entire life, I tried to find a way to escape, and one day I came across this dungeon. It was filled with dark magic scrolls and texts, and I came across a particular scroll one day. "The Transformation of Body to spirit Scroll", it showed how a person could achieve spiritual enlightenment and become a celestial spirit, all I needed were the mana of 100 celestial wizards. You're the last one for me to complete my goal Lucy, you see Lucy I've seen this event happen, I saw every death that I took and I saw me becoming a spirit, and Last night I saw your death perfectly. I saw you scream for pain, I saw you beg and I saw your lifeless corpse on the floor", Shion said with a smile as she walked closer to Lucy.
"Stay away, I don't want to hurt you", said Lucy scared.
"I thought we already established this Lucy, there's nothing you can do", said the priestess as she grabbed both of Lucy's hands.
(Back with Natsu and Laxus)
"So Natsu are you going to just stay quiet or are you going to answer me?", asked Laxus as he held Natsu by his collar with his back against the wall.
Natsu looked extremely aggravated, he was not going to lose to Laxus, and as he opened his mouth, he heard loud screams coming from the castle.
The word, "Natsuuuu…!" filled the halls, along with another horrifying scream.
"That's Lucy", said Natsu.
"Let's go Natsu, I think it came this way", yelled Laxus.
They both distinctively heard Lucy's voice, as they ran up to a wall, they became stumped.
"I know, I heard it come from here ", said Laxus.
"I know your right, I can smell her, but something's different, and I also smell someone else, but it's like they have lost their scent. What the hell's going on?", said Natsu.
Laxus then knocked on the wall, and they heard that it was hollow. They both nodded and they both kicked down the wall, that's where they saw the two stone doors in front of them. Natsu reached for the handle and opened the crimson door. Inside it was dark; there was no longer any light inside the dungeon. They both continued to walk inside until Natsu accidently kicked something on the floor. Natsu lite his hand on fire and was able to see, it was a bloody body lying on the floor.
"Is…is…. That the priestess", said Natsu.
"Ugh yeah, it looks like she was skinned alive, ugh…, who would do something like that", said the Lightning Dragon Slayer, while he tried to keep the food down.
As they threw the remains back on the floor, Natsu decide to hurry and find Lucy, he was getting scared for her safety. As they came further down the room they stumbled on something else.
"Will you quit doing that Natsu", said Laxus.
"Sorry I don't know what tripped me this time", as he shined the light on what was underneath him, he saw Lucy's body.
"It's Lucy", said Natsu with a giant smile, but then his smile went away.
"Lucy wake up", said Natsu, not getting a response. Laxus then put his hand on Natsu shoulder and nodded his head "Were too late", said Laxus.
"No… no it can't be, wake up Lucy, come on wake up this isn't funny anymore, come on Lucy", said the fire dragon slayer staggeringly, his tears started to fall down his face. "Come on Luce, all you have to do is move, No…., No this can't happen.., NO Lucy your not leaving me like this, you can't leave me alone", yelled Natsu, embracing the cold corpse. His face then snapped. He dropped Lucy's body and started to walk away. He raised his face, and there was intent to kill.
"Let's go Laxus the person who did this is not far from here, let's take care of him", said Natsu with a facial expression no one has ever seen. People in the guild have seen Natsu mad before, but this time he seemed more malicious. They quickly left the dungeon.
Lucy's body was in the Dungeon, her pupils seemed lifeless, and there was no longer any of her old magic ruining through her veins. Her body became cold and her Keys were on her hands. Then as Lucy was going more into the darkness, her heartbeat began again. That's when Mavis appeared.
"It's time to wake up Lucy, we need to stop the priestess", said Mavis standing over Lucy's body.
Small Chapter, i know but next week is the final chapter of "After the Games". What do you guys think will happen?, who will Lucy choose and what happened to Shion? Also i will soon decide to add another arc to this story,or Write a new story, but right now the magic games will be over. What should my next story be about, i will upload a poll on the final chapter (with a small summery and title), and decided which story will i write next. Again i write to entertain you guys so next week plz vote. Also review what you guys thought of this chapter. I read Every review! :)