notes:
Additionally to the main storyline I'll tell an extra-story in so-called mini-chapters. I split the chapters in a part A (main story) and a shorter part B focusing on the team Juvia, Gray and Lyon.
At the end of the room there was a tub. […]. After hesitating, Lucy decided to get closer. The tub was filled with foam. 'There's really nobody here …' Lucy realized.
Suddenly she noticed something moving under the foam. Then a face appeared on the surface of the water. "U-u-u" Lucy was about to freak out with her face turning pale as a sheet. Then the eyes of the person opened instantly.
"KYYAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
"UAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
-…-
After some time Lisanna, Natsu and Happy finally stood in front of the door to the apartment. […] The three of them started to worry after having waited for two minutes. "Why isn't she answering?" Happy wondered.
-…-
Natsu stopped in front of a house at the corner of the street. "It's here! I'm sure about this!" He could hear strange noises coming from the inside. Without hesitating he broke violently through the door. "Hey, Lucy! Are you alright?!"
Chapter 37A: Stilbruch
The people inside the house stopped their actions abruptly and turned around, being shocked by the sudden disturbance.
"Natsu!" Lucy recognized the intruder as her friend. "What are you doing?" she shouted at him being angered and embarrassed at the same time.
"Good to see that you are ok." Natsu mentioned while looking around. "Where is he?" he wanted to know looking for someone.
"What are you even talking about?" Lucy didn't understand the dragon slayer's strange behavior.
"I mean the guy who …" Natsu was confused. "Haven't you been kidnapped?"
"Kidnapped?" Lucy was even more confused. "Just where did you get this idea from?"
"But I can smell him." Natsu insisted. "He has to be here somewhere!"
"Oh, it looks like we are too late." Lisanna and Happy arrived standing in the broken door. "Why are you here? We have been worried."
"Well, …" Lucy recollected the strange meeting in the apartment.
FLASHBACK
"KYYAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
"UAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
A moment later Lucy got to her senses again. 'What the hell was that?!' she thought horrified. 'I can only remember running away …' she then realized being in the living room. 'Crap! I went into the wrong direction … I need to get out of here!' Just in that moment, she heard someone coming out of the bathroom and approaching towards her place. "H-hello?" she heard a young man's voice asking. "Who is there?"
Preparing for who or whatever was entering the room, Lucy grabbed the keys on the right of her belt.
The guy coming in was wearing a long, white bathrobe. "You?!" Lucy recognized him. "You are Jean Bouvier, aren't you?!"
"Oh, it's you … sorry, what was your name again?" Jean tried to remember the blond girl. "I'm sure, we've already met … right, you are Lucy Heartfilia, the Celestial Spirit Mage." He then felt a slightly hostile attitude and noticed that Lucy was about to use her keys. "What are trying to do? Your magic doesn't work at the moment."
'He's right …!' Lucy realized shocked remembering the information from the spirit Musca. Because of the chaos in the celestial dimension, most of the gates couldn't be opened at the moment. '… but why does he know about this?!'
A sudden rumbling noise coming from Jean's stomach interrupted the tense situation. "Well, let's save that issue for later." he suggested. "I'm going to go out having something to eat." Then he left the room.
After a while Jean left the house alone. Outside he hesitated worrying about leaving the blond girl in the apartment. 'Hm, she had the key. So she has to be a friend of Lisanna.' he thought to himself. 'There shouldn't be anything to worry about.' He moved on and was about to turn around the corner.'
"Wait, please!" Lucy, who had left the house as well, was calling after him.
Jean turned around being surprised. "Is anything wrong?"
Lucy was approaching him. "I wanted to prepare something to eat but discovered that there isn't anything."
"I know. That's the reason I'm going out for meal." Jean replied.
'You could have told me sooner…' Lucy thought slightly frowning. "Well, I'm accompanying you then." she decided. 'I know I should wait for Lisanna to return but I'm too hungry.'
"Ok … I wanted to ask you earlier but assumed that you don't have any money with you." Jean told her.
"Um …" Lucy's dumbfounded reaction was proof that Jean's comment hit the nail on the head.
"I see … then you are my guest today." Jean suggested and proceeded to go on around the corner.
Lucy was visibly surprised by the sudden invitation. 'What an unsteady person.' she thought but finally followed him.
It was said corner, where Lisanna, Natsu and Happy arrived just a few moments later.
-…-
The next moment Jean and Lucy arrived at the bar Kakadu. Inside it was dark and it was hard to recognize any of the other guests. At the other end there was a stage with three musicians performing their songs. There was a cellist and singer, a violinist and a drummer.
Lucy and Jean were welcomed by the barkeeper. "It may not look like but we have some really tasty dishes here." he told the guests. "Additionally Stilbruch is playing today. They are preparing for the great event the day after tomorrow." he explained.
"Great event?" Lucy wondered.
"Oh, you don't know? Lady Sasturs is holding a Magic Auction in her mansion." the barkeeper went on. "It's the large estate on the hill outside the town."
Lucy remembered seeing the place while entering the town via airship.
Jean pretended to listen as well but he wasn't really following the explanations. Since they had entered the bar, he was bothered by the feeling of being watched. After taking the order, the barkeeper left the table.
Just in that moment a tall man in a black suit approached them. "Excuse me, the master wishes to meet you." he addressed Jean. He handed over a black card.
"My ticket …" Jean talked to himself.
[In the background the band was playing their song. "I am torn – like a ship on stormy waters."]
"It can't be helped." Jean turned to Lucy. "I have to leave now but I might be back soon. Lisanna should be able to figure out that you are here." The man in the black suit took out a grey card. Then they were teleported away.
[Background: "I am torn – but nobody's helping me."]
'What is going on here?!' Lucy thought being left alone. Since she was still in possession of the key to the apartment, she could go back. Or should she wait there?
-…-
"And soon afterwards, you broke in the door." Lucy finished the story.
"You said that he disappeared right in front of your eyes?" Happy couldn't believe the story.
[Background: After being shortly disturbed by Natsu's entrance the band had already continued their performance.]
In the meantime Lisanna was settling the problem of the broken door with the barkeeper while still listening to the conversation. "That's Francois-san's magic. He is able to teleport the carrier of such a card to his location." Lisanna explained taking out a white card. "I and Sophie-chan have one too." After having finished the sentence Lisanna noticed that Natsu wasn't listening anymore. Instead he seemed to be completely distracted by the music playing in the background.
"Hey, Natsu!" Happy tried to call his attention but didn't receive an answer.
"What happened to him?" Lucy was worried.
"I remember now – I have seen them before." Lisanna was referring to the trio. "The band Stilbruch can use Song Magic – it can have a wide variation of effects on the hearer. Jean is a great fan. Maybe that's the reason why he wanted to come here."
"But why does it work on Natsu?" Lucy wondered. "I mean the music was playing in the background the whole time."
"Usually it doesn't affect you as long you don't want to." the barkeeper explained.
"Maybe it's because Natsu's exceptionally good hearing." Happy supposed.
[Background: "I was drawing my attention to receive the highest mention. – And I set myself on fire. – I set myself on fire!"]
"All right! I'm all fired up!" Natsu suddenly burst out inflaming his fists.
"Natsu? What are you doing?!" Lucy was taken aback by the dragon slayer's sudden reaction.
"At this rate he will eventually do even more damage." Lisanna realized worried. "Happy, I need your help!"
"Aye!" the cat replied. Together they grabbed Natsu at the back of his scarf and dragged him outside the building.
Lucy followed them. "That was close." she was relieved realizing that the song's effect seemed to lessen outside. The next moment Natsu passed out. But his snore signalized that he was alright.
"Let's return to the apartment." Lisanna suggested. Lucy and Happy nodded in agreement.
-…-
At the same time Jean was meeting with his and Sophie's father. "Why did you want me to come here?" Jean questioned impatiently.
"He, we haven't seen us for some time and that's how you greet me?" Francois replied calmly.
"I have a guest waiting for me." Jean answered referring to Lucy. "I promised to return as soon as possible."
"I'm afraid that your guest has to wait. We need to talk." Jean's father led the way to the parlor. There they were taking place on the opposite sides of a desk. "First, let me tell you: you did well informing us about the Lycanoos' movements. Unfortunately they escaped with the help of an yet unknown person. Anyway, their target wasn't the town."
Jean was listening to the news. "But that wasn't the reason why you called me here?"
"That's right." his father admitted. "I was recently informed about the events on that island. Lisanna-kun transformed into the Garuda, didn't she?"
Jean was shocked about the fact that his father knew about the incident. He didn't even tell his sister about what had happened then in detail.
"I know that she can't transform into Garuda on her own." Francois went on. "You were responsible for it, weren't you? You two used a forbidden spell. It's a wonder that the situation turned out well."
'I can't tell him that it happened by accident. He would expel me...' he thought getting nervous. "I had no choice … Lisanna was about to use the Phoenix' magic."
"I see. But as my agent you have been too careless." his father stated. "It was your task to KILL her in such a critical situation. At least you have vowed to prevent her from ever using the Phoenix' magic again - no matter the means."
-…-
notes:
The chapter is named after the trio 'Stilbruch'. The band performs pop and rock music with classic instruments (cello, violin) and drums – and only their own songs. Texts in German and English. I have used texts of the songs 'Torn' and 'Take me higher'.
Chapter 37B: The Sage of Water – Part I: Neptune's daughter
It had been seven days since Juvia had joined the training of Gray and Lyon. By their former teacher Ul Milkovich the team had been invited the town of Undina – also called the Azure City and residence of the Sage of Water. Because of an important mission Ul hadn't been able to meet with them. Instead she had arranged a training week for her former students. The Azure Knights – the Sage's personal palace guards and all users of either water or ice related magic – agreed to take care of the guests instead.
In the morning Juvia and Lyon entered the outdoor training place in order to watch the battle between Gray and the First Knight, Conda. She was a tall, young woman in her early twenties with long, blue, curly hair. As First Knight she was the leader of the team.
"Alright, the rules are the same as last time." Crusher, a huge, muscular and bold guy and the Fourth Knight introduced the combatants. "It's a sudden death fight: The first one, who is hit by the opponent, is the loser".
"Alright, Gray-kun. After six attempts you should be able to win this time?" Conda tried to provoke her opponent.
"No, this time you may start. I will win this time either way." Gray replied determined.
"Well, then…" the blue haired woman drew her sword and pointed it towards the opponent. The blade started to become longer and was charging at Gray fast.
"Ice Make: Shield!" Gray created a large wall in front of him. But the blade was able to pierce through the ice.
"How boring. Don't tell me, it's already over." Conda commented.
"No, it won't be that easy." Gray answered. "I created a second layer that stopped your attack."
Conda tried to draw the blade back out of the ice but realized that it was stuck. "A trap?" she wondered.
"I let you pierce through the first layer on purpose. Then I refroze the broken spot." Gray revealed feeling to the upper hand. "Now, it's my turn. Ice Make: Hammer!"
Conda realized the hammer appearing above her in time and avoided being crushed by jumping to the side. "Not bad." she remarked. In her right hand she was wielding the sword that had returned to its original size.
-…-
From the side Juvia and Lyon were commenting the event. "How could she get away?" Juvia was confused. "I thought the sword was trapped in the ice shield?!"
"She severed the head." A relatively small, teenage girl with long, pink hair stated. She was referring to a part of the blade that still stuck in the ice wall. It was Mirage, the Third Knight, who had just joined Juvia and Lyon watching the fight.
"But it's still amazing how much Gray has improved." Lyon commented. "I mean that he could use that spell over such a distance. The opponent is at least four meters away. He even learned from the last try, when he used arrows. It took too much time since the way is blocked by the wall."
"Aw, Juvia wished she could get as strong as Gray-sama." she mentioned while looking in the air.
"Don't worry. You've become stronger as well." Lyon tried to flatter her. He then noticed that Juvia wasn't listening. "What's wrong?"
"There was someone watching us." Juvia was pointing to the highest tower of the palace.
"It's the princess." Mirage explained. "She has secretly been observing your training for the last few days. You might have raised her interest – unfortunately she is not allowed to leave the palace."
"The battle is continuing." Lyon concentrated his attention on Gray again.
"It's getting interesting." Mirage was curious about the outcome. "I wonder if Conda-kun is using all heads of her Hydra Sword this time."
-…-
The princess, who had been watching the event as well, was hiding next to the window after being spotted. Despite her status she was still a small, teenage girl with long orange hair. But her golden diadem and light-blue, elegant robe were proof of her important role.
"What's wrong, your highness?" a male's voice suddenly appeared from a large pier glass. "You look sad today. Well, sadder than usual."
"It's you, Mirror-san." her mood was raising after hearing the familiar voice. "I just wished I could be outside with them as well."
"But please understand that you are very important for everyone." the voice stated. "You are the last Neptune's daughter – the only person that is worthy of the title Sage of Water. Your safety is the highest priority to the people of Undina."
"But still – I just want to be free." the princess sighed in a sad voice.
next chapter: The Sage of Water – Part II: The voice from the mirror