Welcome to Chapter 37. I almost made myself cry. DW about it… *sniffs*
Loke clutched Wendy's small body against his, the dust particles did not filter for a long time. It was like a thick fog of despair and unknowing. Who was alive? Was anyone alive? His mind raced, not wanting too know if she was dead, but at the same time his inner soul seemed to palpitate and crush at the thought of her dead. His hands shook when his subconscious slowly crumbled the idealistic treasure that was the image he had of his and Lucy's future. A child in her arms, it is fifty-fifty in looks. A good share of looks and mannerisms. In that moment, that thought, that want was wavered by a disconsolate feeling.
He still struggled to see past the fog of mud and dust. He wasn't able to breath easily, his lungs trying to reject the dust particles that seemed to slip into his air tunnels. He covered his mouth with his hand, looking down at a perfectly fine Wendy. Other than her dress being slightly torn, her face scuffed, the Sky Dragon Slayer was seemingly well. Much too the Lion Spirit's relief.
Wendy sat down, cupping her eyes to try to see past the dust. It slowly faded, the brown air slowly turned back to a dark shadow with flickers of fire. Though now the torches on the wall were burning on the old roots of trees that over the years had spread through the cave. The Celestial Spirit looked up, he also cupped his eyes too see above him. The roof was much further up now, the ceiling from the ball room above had vanished. The reasons why wasn't known to him, but Loke had one guess and it turned out too be right when he heard a familiar group of grumbles.
He slowly stood, his legs shook minutely from adrenaline that coursed through his body. His eyes narrowed as the dust finally cleared fully. Walking past his friends who were raising from the dust, he could not pin point the location of Lucy. It worried him. It more than worried him, it made him feel completely terrified, afeard with the prospect of her slowly dying under tonnes of rubble and mud.
He moved, his legs still shaking as he climbed over the rocks. His friends who seemed to notice his worry, looking round themselves, slowly finding other comrades who had made the collapse. His mind was doing a one hundred and eighty degree turn, somersaulting, his eyes almost thudded. He couldn't breathe again, he couldn't breathe when he knew there was a possibility that she wasn't.
Lucy... His mind repeated her name, as if reminding him of who he was trying to find. His chest started to tighten. Please, don't be dead... Not now.
Natsu, holding Lisanna safely in his arms, spotted Loke roaming the underground cave. Worried, he told Lisanna to stay where she was. Running after the Lion Spirit, "Loke?"
"Must find her," his found himself mumbling. He didn't really understand where he found the strength to move his lips. His voice seemed bug eyed in emotion.
Natsu knew the worry. The moment he fell through the ground after finally defeating Kipley and Erving who's bodies were laying dead in the far corner of the room, he worried for the safety of Lisanna above most. The moment he regained consciousness, he worried about the woman he loved. He felt nothing but worry.
He could understand wanting the person you love to be safe. He touched the Lion Spirit's shoulder, attempting to soften the worry, even by a morsel. "Lucy is strong enough, she would've found a way to keep herself safe."
He sounded so sure, Loke looked over his shoulder to him. "Help me find her." He said, bleakly.
Natsu nodded, not getting the reaction he wanted. Though being honest with himself, he didn't fully comprehend the reaction he wanted.
The Celestial Mage awoke in a bubble of sorts. She had not thought she'd awaken in such good circumstances. Honestly, she thought she'd die. She didn't think that she'd grabbed Virgo's key soon enough. But it seemed luck was on her side for at least a moment more.
Looking too her side, Lucy found Virgo holding her. The pink haired Spirit smirked happily, "Anything else, Princess?"
Lucy nodded, narrowing her eyes, "I wanna torpedo that son of a bitch out of this place."
Virgo held onto her tightly, her powers causing her to spin through the rubble and mud like it was no effort at all. Lucy readied her hands, one on her whip, one in front of her, ready to strangle the man in her way.
He hadn't suspected them to turn up like they did, Obadiah opened his eyes at the last minute. Lucy's hand wrapping around his throat as they blasted through the rubble towards the air. The comrades outside the rubble were shocked to see three people flying through the air. Loke's eyes widened, a smile slowly spreading through his lips to his eyes.
Lucy...
Lucy forced Virgo back to the Spirit World, grabbing her other key. "Open, Gate of the Ram! Aries!" Smacking Obadiah into the wall behind him, kicking herself backwards. Just in time as Aries flew out of her key. Lucy yelled, "Aries, attack!"
"Yes, Ma'am!" Aries said, determination was hidden behind her usual timid voice. "Wool Bomb!"
The Wool Bomb hit Obadiah who seemed to be limp for a moment, he growled to himself. Unable to move. Lucy thought no better moment than to summon one of her Spirits back too her. "Open, Gate of the Golden Bull! Taurus!" Taurus flew forward, kicking Aries higher into the air for better aim.
"Joint attack!" Lucy said as she fell to the ground.
Loke ran forward, his lion like speed benefited him in that moment as he caught her in his arms, causing them both to fall forward to the floor. Taurus mooed loudly as Aries shouted, "One hundred percent Fluffy-Fluffy Wool!" Taurus spun his axe as he collected the Wool and shot it forward. "Wool Typhoon!" They both shouted.
Obadiah could not see, he coughed and wheezed. Feeling his inner anger rise as the Celestial Spirits vanished back to the Celestial Spirit World, seemingly running out of magic energy. He chuckled to himself, though the attack was well thought out in such a hurried time lapse. He had to chuckle by how stupid the girl was. Wool? She thought Wool would weaken him?
"Incautious..." He breathed.
Lucy looked up at Loke and smiled, moving to her knees and breathed heavily. Loke felt her forehead, she was burning up a fever. He frowned at her, his protective side showing some light. "You need to slow down and stop over exerting yourself!"
Lucy shakily stood up, her magical energy was almost out. She didn't have many choices left, how she was going to finish this battle she didn't know. Her mind was at an unhelpful blank. She looked to Loke and smiled softly, her eyes sad. "I have to do this."
Loke felt a pang in his chest, his heart hurt. He winced, his eyes looked in pain. "Lucy..."
She leaned into him, kissing his cheek where her hand had been. She then went to his lips, he had almost forgotten what they had tasted like. But however sweet her rose petal lips tasted, he could not help but feel like the kiss was a 'possibly goodbye,' kiss. He felt his stomach clench, opening his eyes he pulled away from her. "Let me help you, please."
Her eyes for a moment flashed with worry, but when she saw how determined his face was. When she realised how much pain she had caused him in the past day, how much he would sacrifice to save her, she nodded slowly in agreement. Though even past all that, she was unsure on exactly how he was going to help her. She had to kill Obadiah, it was written in stone. She didn't know another way.
She put her hand to his chest, "I love you, Leo the Lion Spirit."
Loke didn't wait a second to reply with a small smile, "And I love you too, my Celestial wonder."
They both stood, hands looped around each others. They stood determined, though weakened, to finish this as quickly as they could. Sounds came from behind the cloud of pink wool, Lucy's heart thudded as she calculated what to do next.
What could weaken him? It has to be enough so I have enough time to give him the finishing blow before he gains his strength back... Lucy widened her eyes. The spell isn't perfected yet...but I could try. I have to try.
A figure was visible from the wool suddenly, throwing his arm forward and saying with full anguish. "Dark Spirit, Crush!"
The black smoke like magic flew towards Lucy's figure. Loke in a quick fluent moment moved in front of her. Like heck is that going to work!
"Regulus! Impact!" Loke put his hands in front of him, the golden light shone from his palms. Flying forward like a lion towards Obadiah's almost bored figure. Though the Regulus's light seemingly burnt away the black smoke of Dark Spirit Magic, it didn't however seem to affect Obadiah in any way.
When the shine of Regulus's impact faded, Obadiah stood, smoking under its power. He hadn't moved, a usual, normal person would have been blasted backwards for miles. His smile was smug, but that wasn't all what was shocking to the Lion Spirit.
He was suddenly a demon. His eyes... Fresh like blood, his skin hollow and pale. Almost gray in colour. Around his eyes were black rings, he was taller, his hands like claws that's nails were as sharp as freshly sharpened knives. His teeth were long, he was no longer human. He was a demon.
"Foolish." He chuckled, "Regulus only stings my skin. It cannot kill me, you pathetic excuse for a Spirit."
Loke narrowed his eyes, his pride stung a little. He had to admit, he had hoped for an unconscious son of a bitch who couldn't fend for himself anymore. He'd hoped Regulus Impact like he had summoned would've done that. He felt weak for it not doing so. If a Celestial being had no strength to cause damage to a man like Obadiah, then what help would Loke truly be? After all, he was the leader of the Zodiacs.
"Let me show you, little cub, what a real spirit can do." The voice was taunting, causing the Lion Spirit to feel his hair prickle on the back of his neck.
Loke growled, "Lucy, stand back!"
"Amaterasu, formula 28," He lifted up two fingers, seemingly making a pattern in the air. It was so quick, Loke couldn't defend himself and Lucy. He pushed her away as three magic seals appeared around him. It was so fast. So sudden. A shockwave pillar flew high into the air, the feeling of being burned and scolded filled his entire body. He screamed loudly, pain filling the air.
This pain...so much pain! He thought, only seeing purple as the spell faded. He fell too his knees, coughing heavily, looking up through his flattened hair. His breathing was ragged, he felt himself seemingly fade. He tried all his might not to disappear, staring at the man in front of his who had a demon for a face. I can't hold on much longer, I'm completely out of both physical and magic energy...
Obadiah laughed loudly, his laugh echoed through everyone ears like loud cow bells. Ringing and ringing. His fresh blood eyes stared straight ahead to Lucy, his smile was nothing but disgusting and evil.
Lucy panted, scared she looked to her Lion Spirit, "Loke..."
"Sorry, beautiful, I don't think I can hang around much longer. I don't think the strength is there anymore." He looked to her and smiled, apologetic, he was sorry he couldn't stay around.
Lucy gritted her teeth, her friends were defending the sudden fleet of guards that flooded the underground cave again. They were all wounded in some way. The blonde mage stepped forward.
"Then I better do this quickly, huh?" Lucy mumbled, loud enough for her love to hear.
Loke couldn't speak, he was using all of his strength to stay in this world to start with. He just watched. His body shaking, as Lucy walked towards Obadiah, her hands slightly flayed out at her sides. A gold like shine lifted off her body, wind flowing throughout the cave like a whirlwind.
Loke widened his eyes, no...It'll wipe your energy! Lucy! He couldn't speak. He was too weak to speak.
Lucy started to speak the incantation, her voice firm, angered. "Survey the Heavens, open the Heavens...All the stars, far and wide...Show me thy appearance...With such shine." She took a small breath, the golden glow shifting and changing. Orbs glowed in the sky around her. Planets...all eighty-eight. "Oh Tetrabiblos... I am the ruler of the stars...Aspect become complete...Open thy malevolent gate. Oh eighty-eight Stars of the heaven..." Lucy felt the magic surge through her, she smiled as the white gold light shone on her face. She suddenly opened her eyes, staring straight at Obadiah as she spoke. "SHINE! Urano Metria!" Her voice was like a hurricane, its vibrations causing rocks to rumble and shatter.
Everyone's sight went for those twelve-seconds that the spell hit the target. It was even more blinding that Regulus. Loke shielded his eyes, closing them, forcing himself not to vanish. The sound of explosions and screaming. Yelling, so much yelling.
Smoke flew into the air, filling the nostrils of everyone around it. The light faded, Lucy was on her knees, exhausted by the events she had just summoned. She panted, her head felt like it was spinning and leaping. Coughing she leant on her hands to keep herself awake, to keep herself from falling over. From fainting from exhaustion. Her body shook, it was so weak, if she were a Spirit she would've been sent back to the Spirit World.
She looked up, feeling bile rise to her throat. One eye had dirt in it, her eye was closed. But the eye that could see, saw that Obadiah was leant over himself, panting, hurt. Though slowly, his wounds seemed to seal and heal over.
I have to move! She told herself, trying to stand. The time is now! Pick up something sharp! She looked around, seeing a jagged, thick rock that had a severely pointed edge. She went to grab it, but the sound of him laughing made her stop. Her dirt filled eye opened, painfully. Her face dropped, stunned that he was able to laugh. After all that...it wasn't enough.
"It is time, my dear to make you mine!" The Blonde mage watched as the demon like Obadiah flayed his arms mid way outwards. His fingers started to perspire black smoke, his eyes clouded over, fresh blood quickly became endless black. "I shall not be disturbed!" He suddenly shouted, using three fingers, he swept his hand outwards. "Curse magic!" Lucy whipped her head around to see Natsu and Gray screaming in pain as their bones were slowly tortured.
Lucy widened her eyes, fear struck her very being. She wasn't able to kill him. Her body was weak. Urano Metria was only able to shortly injure him. His body may be harmed, but Caine's inner strength seemed to prevail. She felt tears flow from her body as Natsu and Gray collapsed to the floor, exhausted, almost unconscious due to the pain their body had endured. The Celestial Mage looked back to Obadiah, feeling a sudden surge of complete and utter anguish. She slowly stood, her body protesting by almost screaming at her. Begging her to stay down.
"Bastard..." She whispered, he could hear her. He glared at her. She spoke, her voice shaking but somehow still held an inner hatred. "You think you can hurt my friends without having to answer for it?" She glared at him right back, her eyes reminding Caine of the mother he wished to take over at first. Layla was too weak. But her daughter held both strengths of mother and daughter within her soul. "I promise, as long as I live, you will not take away the one thing that matters to be most of all!" My last resort... Gray's ice is melting...
"Open! Gate of the Water Barer! Aquarius!" Her key glowed, Aquarius was suddenly in front of her. Obviously annoyed. Pissed off was a better description.
"What matters to me most of all, is the freedom to live with complete happiness!" Lucy screamed, "Aquarius!"
Aquarius lifted her urn and yelled angrily, "I WAS ON A DATE, YOU BITCH!" Water flew from her barer urn, rushing like a tsunami towards Obadiah who for a moment looked scared. "WATER PILLAR!" Aquarius screamed.
The water rushed upwards, carrying Obadiah along with it. He screamed loudly, Aquarius vanished suddenly, Lucy running out of magic energy completely. She crawled across the floor, her body hurting as she did. The rock she had chosen was still in her hands. She was going to finish this, whether it killed her or not.
Obadiah was on all fours, head bowed, coughing up water violently. "You... bitch..." He struggled to speak, he didn't look up either. Lucy kept crawling too him, eventually was at a distance that meant she could finally give him that last blow. She gathered up the little strength she had left, her muscles tried to lock themselves, but she forced them to work.
Lifting up her arm that the rock was held in, she screamed as she plunged it down, "Just die!"
For a moment, everyone stopped fighting. The injured managed to look up from the ground, long enough to truly think that Lucy had managed to give that blow that they ached to be given. Loke coughed and held back a yell in pain, looking past his almost closed eyes to see the sight that no one wished to see.
Obadiah's hand was around her wrist. The other around her throat. He squeezed her hand so hard that she dropped the weapon of choice. He looked straight into her eyes, her ever so shocked eyes. He was so quick, even when injured. It seemed that Caine's soul was forever impregnable within a vessel. Lucy and the others should've seen that a lot sooner. They should've tried to take Caine from the body first, killing them both at the same time.
"I told you, nothing will get in my way of getting what I want." He spoke, his voice turning gruff, like a chain smoking old woman who couldn't breathe. He grinned smugly, "I will take you now, little lion heart." He breathed, "Possession magic, full soul takeover..."
Lucy felt the sudden feeling of pressure slipping into her body. Slowly her sight fogged over, she felt a presence take over her soul. She was sent backwards in her body, she was the second person in the cart as it were. She was watching what someone else was doing. Finally... I have you.
Loke watched in terror as Lucy stood perfectly, no shaking in exhaustion. No heavy breathing. No signs of any fatigue. Natsu saw this too, managing to speak through his pain. "Lucy... You okay?"
Lucy's back was to them, but even a blind person could feel her persona change. Her body mannerisms shifted. Her shoulders shook a little, it at first looked as though she was crying. It was until she spun around that everyone saw that she was laughing. Her grin was snide, her eyes were blood red, her skin paler than usual. Loke felt a sudden sick feeling course through inside of him. It burned him. His scolded his soul to know that they had failed in their mission. Lucy had been possessed. They failed...
"Oh how pleasant. Everyone is worried about little ol' me." Her voice was Lucy's but her words were not her own. Her eyes were narrowed in humour, her smirk was nothing but smug. "Everyone was willing to save me from the big bad wolf." She put a finger to her mouth, "How foolish can you all be?"
Erza slay down a guard before saying, "You're not Lucy, so stop pretending to be so."
Lucy chuckled loudly, almost like a shriek. "I am nothing but Lucy!" She glared at the reequip mage. "I am a stronger Lucy now, and I don't need saving."
She held out two fingers, "Amaterasu, formula 100," she swirled her fingers in a circle. Aiming straight towards Erza and the guild members behind her.
The purple orb started to form, Lucy's face shone within it. Two black figures moves forward, one in front of Lucy, one in front of the guild members. The one in front of the guild members created a water shield to protect them from any harm. The one in front of Lucy yelled, "Nullification magic!" Sweeping his arms in front of him.
Lucy's eyes widened, only a fraction of the spell was able to escape. It bounced off the water bubble like it was nothing at all. The spell that nulled her magic wasn't strong enough to fully null her. She for a moment seemed shocked, but then looked darkly amused. "Zachary Mandragora. The baby of the Mandragora family since the youngest sibling Kaito Mandragora died of a swimming accident." She chuckled, "Friend to Lucy Heartfilia. Loves her. Still a virgin because of it, hasn't loved anyone else...ever." She laughed. "Light Spirit Magic user by blood, a Pixie, learned many other spells growing up as a mage with his twin sister, Kiarely." She looked at him, her eyes darkening. "Even the little brat I've possessed, didn't know you could use nullification magic. Even if its a poor excuse of execution for the spell." She shrieked a cackle.
Zachary glared at her, his eyes dark. "Lucy, hear me now. I know you're still there." He put his hand up to eye level, he spoke in a dark tone. "This'll hurt a little, but its the last spell I can cast since I have almost completely run out of magic energy myself."
Lucy chuckled and shook her head, "No spell can hurt me, pest."
Zachary looked amused for a second, "I'm sure if you looked into the memories of the person you're in, you'd know she isn't unknowing of what I am about to do." He narrowed his eyes, "Kill me if you want, but it won't stop that girl inside of you finding a way out."
"What a glorious invitation!" Lucy said, pleased. "Dark Spirit Magic...!"
Zachary gritted his teeth, "Light Spirit Magic...!"
They both screamed at the same time, their voice clashing in everyone's shocked ears and bodies. "Annihilation!" Lucy casted. "Transmission!" Zachary yelled.
After casting the spell, Zachary relaxed, closing his eyes. She didn't use the death spell... ah... he was amused, I still don't think I'll make it, I'm so weak from battle...at least now, she'll be able to use that one time spell to end all of this. The power of Light Spirit Magic...
"Light Spirit Magic, blast!" Zachary snapped open his eyes to the sound of his sister's voice. Kiarely's spell was able to send Lucy's body flying backwards, before the green and black spell crushed within the body of his sister. Zachary watched in utter shock as Kiarely fell to the floor in front of him.
Zachary fell to his knees, his eyes wide. Tears escaping them, he looked down on his sister. She's dead... no... she's still slightly breathing... Zachary couldn't hold himself up anymore, falling beside her in exhaustion. Kiarely...you idiot.
Lucy awoke in a garden. Or maybe it was a forest of sorts. Wherever she was, it was sure beautiful. The sun glittered, the grass seemed to glow. Glowing flies and buzzing bees swooped around her. She felt utterly peaceful. Where ever she was.
Maybe this is heaven. She thought to herself.
She slowly sat up, looking around. She was in the middle of a lake, a small island was in the middle of it. She watched the water reflect the golden light of the sun. She smiled, seeing fish leap in and dive back into the water. She was happy. She felt enlightened.
"So, you are awake, little lion heart." The voice was sweet, comforting. Lucy could tell she was beautiful before she looked at her. She moved her head to her side.
There sat a woman fishing, her feet in the water. She was young, younger than Lucy. The same age as Wendy, possibly. Lucy breathed, the air seemed crisp and welcoming. "Who're you?"
The girl looked over her shoulder, her face was older than her body. Roughly the same age as Kiarely. Her smile could melt hearts, her voice could comfort the dying, her eyes could kill a thousand enemies. Lucy knew who she was before she answered, the story books did no justice, but sure enough, Lucy knew who she was.
"I am Luna Adalberht," she said softly. "Queen of Pixies. I hear you are in need of my help, young one."
I hope you enjoyed today's chapter. I worked pretty hard on it. I understand that some dislike the usage of OCs. I like them, I think they add something, especially in this chapter. BUT LIKE HOLY MOFO, Luna, Queen the Pixies! (This final fight chapter will be something look forward too, right? 'oh yeah, I gotta write it…') What's going to happen to Obadiah now he is of no use to Caine? Is Kiarely and Zachary going to make it? And will Loke find a way to stay in the human world to finish protecting Lucy? Find out next time, and don't forget to REVIEW!