It's Monday! Mirajane's Marvelous Monday... she's our last and final swamp guardian.
Irina: Elf is a softie. Shame he couldn't have figured that up before he hurt Gray... :) But better late than never! Thanks again!
- K. Chandler
Laxus watched as his troublesome fiancée ran off with a man clad in black. He wondered if he was one of the kidnappers that Freed had hired or if he was someone else. Laxus suspected the latter. Freed was excitable, so if it had been one of Freed's assassins, his face would have shown that plainly. His reaction was far too stoic for that to have been the case.
No matter.
Laxus needed to frame Sabertooth, and this man would serve that role just as well.
"Just as I thought," said Laxus, pretending that all was going according to plan. Or rather, continuing with the plan and pretending to 'discover' the assassin in the act. "They're heading into the Changeling Swamp."
"Are you really planning on following them?" asked Freed.
"No, we'll cut them off on the other side. Time to put an end to this charade," he said, even though, in his mind, the game was just beginning. "Quickly, Freed!"
"Shouldn't a swamp be darkest at the center?" asked Lucy.
"Hm?"
Gray had been getting more and more distracted as they ventured though the swamp. His injuries were probably affecting more than he would care to admit, but Lucy could see right through his bravado.
"It's too dark," said Lucy.
"Scared?" he asked lightly. He sounded like he was a little out of breath, probably because of his broken ribs.
"No, just confused," said Lucy.
She couldn't afford to be scared at this point. With Gray hurt, she had to be the one to get them out of the swamp. As much as she trusted him, it wasn't fair for him to have to shoulder all the responsibility. She had to do her part.
"It's probably nothing," he said. "Must be getting late. It's after midnight at least."
"I can still see the moon," she pointed out.
"Storm?"
"Maybe."
Something about this wasn't natural. In the pit of her gut, Lucy worried that this was the work of 'Big Sis', whoever she was. The cute name didn't fool her. Given the fact that Gray had been so badly beaten by the Elf-man, the oldest changeling was probably the most terrible of them all.
Behind them, Lucy sensed a dark aura. She whirled around, finding herself staring into the eyes of a creature that was as beautiful as she was horrible.
Right away, Lucy knew that this was 'Big Sis.'
Big Sis was beautiful, with pure white hair that swirled around her like a halo. Her eyes were a piercing, dark blue. She seemed human-like and she would have reminded Lucy of an angel, but dark veins marbled her pale skin. Her wings were blacker than night. The human appearance was further marred by pointed ears and a scaly lizard-like tail.
Big Sis was no angel. She was pure demon.
Lucy's mouth opened, but no sound came out, her gasp stuck in her throat.
"Who's trespassing in my swamp?" the She-Devil leered, her voice like liquid evil.
Gray stepped forward, starting to shoulder Lucy out of the way again. Was he trying to get himself killed?
Lucy made a grab for her reckless lover. "Gray, no. You're hurt."
"I can take her," Gray insisted.
"Don't."
"I've had worse."
"You're back from the dead. That doesn't mean much," said Lucy.
The She-Devil chuckled. "My, aren't you entertaining?"
"Wasn't actually dead," Gray reminded her impatiently. "Look, I've got one good arm. I can still mold. I can take her."
Lucy shook her head furiously. "Come up with something else."
"Well, what then?" asked Gray.
"Let me handle this one," said Lucy.
"And what are you going to do?" asked Gray. "Talk her to death? You can't be planning to fight her."
"Then come up with something else," insisted Lucy. "Otherwise, I have no choice."
Gray sighed before turning toward the She-Devil. "As the lady has pointed out, I'm in no state to fight you."
"Well, that's too bad," simpered the She-Devil.
"So, I was thinking, maybe we could work something out," said Gray.
The She-Devil rolled her eyes. "Maybe I could crush your skull. You, know, make it match the rest of your body."
"Come on," said Gray. "I'm sure we can talk things through. Parlay."
"No deal," said the She-Devil. "I don't much like talking."
Lucy's eyes widened. Talking.
Gray's words from before echoed in her head. What are you going to do? Talk her to death?
The retort had stung, but it was actually a good idea. This wasn't that much different than a kidnapping. If hostage-takers could be talked into surrender, or to distraction, there was no reason this changeling couldn't.
Besides, she might not have been a fighter, but talking was one thing that Lucy could do.
"Why don't we skip right to the part where I—" started the She-devil.
Lucy bounced to her feet. "You've got nothing on us, lady! We've got true love on our side."
"What are you doing?" hissed Gray. "Lucy? Lucy!"
"I've got a plan," she whispered.
The She-Devil threw her head back and laughed. The sound reminded Lucy of metal grating against metal.
"Oh, you think that's funny, do you? Well, let me tell you. We've faced an ice wizard and a fire mage. We even defeated a really scary lady warrior. Hoo-wee, let me tell you! She was scary. Possibly scarier than you. Okay, maybe not quite," rambled Lucy.
She continued on until her mouth was dry and her throat was hoarse. She wasn't even sure if she made sense anymore. But it didn't matter.
Lucy talked.
"…And a ship. With sails of ice. The Juliet. Which sank to the bottom of the ocean. And even the goddess of the sea, with her water magic…"
And talked.
"…And true love. Which is unstoppable, even by death. Gray came back. For me. Because he loves me."
And talked.
"…and turnips. Turnip cake and turnip custard and turnip stew. And then Gray said—"
"Stop. Stop! STOP!" barked the She-Devil. "Good grief! Do you ever stop? You're giving me a headache."
Lucy grinned. "The power of love triumphs again! Not even—"
"Enough of your love talk!" she growled.
"Really?" asked Lucy.
"Just get out of my swamp!" she said. "Go on. Leave."
"Yeah. Okay!" Lucy scrambled to grab Gray's hand and pull him along as quickly as she could, trying to be mindful of his injuries. Lucy looked over her shoulder. The She-Devil had disappeared.
"That was your plan?" he asked, shaking his head in bewilderment. "Did you literally just talk her into submission?"
"I can't believe it worked," she breathed.
"Well…? Good job. You totally saved us back there," he said.
"I know," said Lucy. "I have a good idea every once in a while! Princess 101," said Lucy cheerfully. "When in doubt, run your mouth. Works every time."
[She's just being modest.]
As they passed the third guardian's checkpoint, the swamp brightened considerably. Soon, they had reached the edge of the swamp.
"How're you holding up?" she asked.
"I'm all right," said Gray, giving her a tight smile. He moved gingerly, his injuries slowing his movements.
Lucy frowned. Gray was anything but all right.
"Don't worry so much, yeah? That's the Sabertooth border," said Gray, a grin on his weary face. "Once we're on the other side…"
"It can't happen soon enough," said Lucy.
Hand in hand, Lucy and Gray stumbled out of the Changeling Swamp.
The had made it. Sabertooth was just on the other side of that river.
"See? What did I tell ya? Piece of cake," said Gray, as though trying to rally his strength with false bravado.
There wasn't much else she could do to help him, so Lucy played along, allowing him to pretend. "Say that after we get to the other side," she retorted, hiding her worry by keeping her tone playful.
The sound of hoofbeats made her stop. Her heart sank as Laxus and Freed approached, cutting them off by blocking their path.
No, no, no! This wasn't right. This couldn't happen. Not when they were so close!
Next to her, Gray swore under his breath.
"Surrender!" roared Laxus, imposing atop his noble steed.
"You will? That was easy," said Gray. "Oh, you meant for me to surrender? Yeah, I don't think so."
Laxus bristled. "Do not mock me."
"Who's mocking?" asked Gray, wearing his most infuriating smirk.
"Gray!" scolded Lucy. "Now's not the time."
"I'm being completely serious," said Gray.
"I said, surrender!" snarled Laxus.
"I heard you just fine the first time," said Gray evenly. "I'm just not going to do it."
"Don't be a fool!" scoffed Laxus. "We have you surrounded. Where do you think you're going to go?"
"Gee, I don't know; how 'bout the Changeling Swamp," said Gray. "We know how to survive there. Indefinitely if we needed to. Who's the fool now?" he challenged.
"You're bluffing," said Laxus.
"Am I? Or should we find out?" asked Gray. "While you were busy chickening out and cutting around the Changeling swamp, we went through it. I'm on good terms with the swamp guardians now. They'll protect us. I doubt they'll do the same for you."
"You talk a lot for someone who's about to be crushed," said Laxus.
"If it's a fight you want, you're gonna get one." Gray winced as he extended his uninjured hand, sparks of ice magic dancing at his fingertips. He let out a sharp exhale, keeping his broken arm tucked next to his side, guarding his injured ribs.
"Oh, you're a mage!" said Laxus sarcastically, readying his own magic. "So am I."
She had to do something. She had to stop this before Gray and Laxus attacked one another. In another world, she'd be curious who would win. But here, today, she couldn't.
From what she knew of Laxus, he wasn't the type to fight fair. Laxus was the type of person who knew what he wanted and always got it. Injured as he was, Gray would never survive that. What he needed was medical attention, not another fight.
But what could she do? She had no magic and she couldn't physically stop the men from coming to blows. No, she had just one option.
She had to start talking again. Princess 101, right?
"L-Laxus," she whispered. "Laxus, please."
"Lucy." Laxus couldn't help but acknowledge her.
"You're here," she said, placing a hand over her heart and pretending to be relieved. "I didn't think you'd actually come."
"Of course, I'm here," he said, surprisingly gentle. "It's not every day that your fiancée gets kidnapped by assassins from Sabertooth."
Lucy resisted the urge to roll her eyes. He made it sound like some sort of a life event.
"I wasn't kidnapped," interjected Lucy. "At least, not by him. He was the one who saved me from the kidnappers."
"Princess, this man is from Sabertooth. He is a dangerous criminal," said Freed.
"No," said Lucy. "He's a citizen of Fiore. And he's somebody who's very important to me. Laxus, if you love me at all—"
"Who said anything about love?" asked Laxus, his eyes narrowing as his face twisted into something horrible and mocking. "I thought we agreed that wasn't part of the equation?"
Lucy flinched. She had forgotten. Those were the first words she had said to him when he found her at the farm, so many years ago. She was starting to regret that.
Laxus turned his attention back to Gray. He looked unsteady on his feet.
"You will release Lucy and turn yourself in," said Laxus.
"Release her? I'm not even touching her," Gray pointed out.
"Surrender," insisted Laxus again. "The princess is coming with us."
"Over my dead body," hissed Gray.
Lucy gasped. He wouldn't. Fighting Laxus in his condition would be suicide.
"That can be arranged," growled Laxus.
Gray raised his hands to attack.
Lucy ran out between them. "No. Stop this!"
Maybe she wasn't entirely out of options. She had one more bargaining chip.
Herself.
"Lucy, stay back," said Gray. "Stay back and… and let me finish him," he panted, breathing shallowly as he hugged his injured side.
Lucy shook her head, turning to look Laxus square in the eye. "If we surrender, and I go home with you, will you let him go?" Lucy burst out.
"What?" asked Freed. "The man who kidnapped the princess? You want us to let him go?"
"That's what I said, isn't it?" Lucy kept her voice steady.
"Lucy, are you crazy?" hissed Gray, his eyes locking on hers. "What are you doing?"
The right thing. That was what she was doing. She was sure as soon as their eyes met. She could see the hurt in his expression, but Lucy had no doubts about what she needed to do.
Gray had died once, or so she'd thought. Losing him was unbearable. She wouldn't let it happen again. She'd give herself over to Laxus if he would spare Gray.
"This man saved my life," explained Lucy. "He's a sailor. His ship is waiting for him out in the bay. Will you return him to his ship and crew unharmed?"
"Lucy, be reasonable," said Laxus.
"If you agree to my terms, I'll return to the castle with you. Will you let him go?" she repeated.
Lucy glared back at Laxus, her chin held high. Her heart thundered in her chest. She had never stood up to Laxus before. There had never been a reason to. After Gray had died, Lucy had been no better than a living corpse. She had gone through the motions with Laxus in that horrible castle of his.
But now… now that she knew Gray was alive, she had something to live for. Something to fight for.
Laxus nodded, though his expression twisted with distaste. "Anything for you, my sweet. Freed, you know what to do. Stay behind and take care of Lucy's friend."
"Yes, my liege," said Freed. His words were obedient, though his expression betrayed his distaste for the idea.
"But, Lucy," protested Gray.
Lucy shook her head, her expression set. "I lost you once, and my world ended," she whispered. She ran a hand across Gray's cheek. "I can't sit back and watch him kill you. Not when I can do something to stop it." She tried to smile, hoping it didn't look too forlorn. She'd willingly live a life without him, if that meant that he could live the rest of his in safety.
"Don't do this," begged Gray, catching her hand with his uninjured one.
Lucy swallowed hard. "Goodbye, Gray…" she choked.
She pulled away, turning her back on him. She forced herself not to look back. She took the hand that Laxus extended, forcing herself not to recoil. He helped her up, settling her on the saddle behind him.
They set off in the direction of the castle, leaving Freed behind with Gray. It was only then, when there was no turning back, that Lucy dared a backwards glance.
Lucy almost sobbed aloud when her eyes met Gray's. There was a hurt in Gray's expression that had nothing to do with his injuries. But she couldn't cry. Not now. She couldn't leave Gray with that. The last thing he saw had to be a smile.
"I love you," she mouthed, forcing the corners of her mouth into a bittersweet smile as she tried to keep the tears at bay. She watched from the atop the horse that would carry her back to the castle, watching as the boy she loved grew smaller and smaller until he finally faded away.
Even after he was gone, Lucy would never forget the heartbroken look on her lover's face. It killed her to know that she was the one who put it there. But she could only hope he understood why she had to do it.
Lucy talks a lot in canon. And she talks big. And she doesn't always have the firepower to back up her talking. Was I taking a jab? May-be... But it comes from a place of love, I promise. :)
Next time, in As You Wish: Lucy was little more than a dressmaker's dummy as castle attendants helped her into her wedding gown. It was supposed to be the happiest day in a person's life. Yet, she felt no joy at this wedding. Of course, she had known this before it had happened.
Stop back next Monday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.
