Change of Fate

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 10

At the resort, Grace found herself by the beach. Watching Lucy and Natsu on the waves. Gray and Erza catching some rays. Overall, it was calm. It was relaxing. Something that Grace thought was a child's dream.

At nightfall, Lucy went in with the others, saying something about the casino. Grace had said that she would be lying out on the beach, stargazing. She found that it was one of the very few things that she had found to calm her wandering soul.

As her eyes glanced towards the stars. She vaguely heard Natsu running along the shoreline. While the others running behind him, looking for a boat. She knew that they were up to something, but she had no energy to get up to run after them.

Her eyes flickered to close. Feeling her wakefulness slipping from her fingertips. 'That overload must have done me in.'

Gajeel was at the cottage that he shared with Grace, lying in bed with a book in his hands. He could not believe himself, as soon as Grace and her companions had left. He had gone home to read the book that Lucy had given him. Hoping that it would give him some insight on what to do. Or a least an idea of one.

He found that every page that he turned, was worth wanting to want to throw the book away. He was not a sap. That was one thing that he wasn't and he would not change for the world. But he found some common elements that he could not ignore.

Women like thoughtful gifts, going out to dinner, spending time with one another. The book had also given him something else to learn about, women liked heartfelt meaning. No matter if it were with words, actions, or something in general. He found that women want a relationship with meaning, which he would learn to do.

"I never realized that women could be a pain." He read some more and gulped after seeing some words that he could never see himself say. "But she's worth fighting to keep in my life though."

Walking across the sandy beach in the dark of night. Fingers laced with one another, anchoring one another. Neither one leading. Just enjoying the sheer bliss of one another.

"Women really have high expectations when it comes to this sap." He shook his head, his eyes twitched as he tried to read more but not finding it in his heart to do so.

After reading as much as he was willing to do. He had a vague idea of what was needed to do in his life. He knew not to rush things, go by the speed of what Grace wanted. He had noticed that she was kissing him, which he thought it wasn't going to happen. At least not for many days or months. But he was pleased nonetheless.

He knew from the reading that most cases that the man would have to fight to keep their woman. He was hoping that it would not have to be like that. He knew that Grace was loving, loyal, and down right scary when it came to protecting those that she held dear. It was because of those things that he wanted from her.

"Why can't I have her as my mate now?" He leaned back into his pillow, as he sighed in wonder. "Oh yeah, love can't be rushed and all that wonderful goodness." He glared at his surrounding bedroom. "Good thing I'll be off on a job for the master. It's boring around here without Grace being here."

He closed his eyes after turning off the light. Dreaming about Grace under the light of the moon, on the sandy beach. Hoping that she was enjoying her time away from the guild.

Grace opened her eyes after hearing Lucy called out, 'Erza' to the night air. She glanced around and saw many people running on the seashore. Making their way towards a couple of dark figures. She pushed herself out of her lounge and made her way towards them. That night; while Lucy lead them back to their room, Grace found out the nightmare that had gone on.

Tower of Heaven was known by the group as something to never talked about again. Not because of what had gone on but also because of Erza. Grace learned that slavery had occurred, causing many deaths. She also learned that the name, Zeref was something to learn to hate.

When Grace had found it in herself to find sleep again. She dreamt about her childhood test lab. It was something that she would rather bury within the darkness of her past. Within her nightmarish memories, she had heard some of the men had said the name of Zeref more than a few times.

"According to these journals of Zeref, the test subject should experience some overwhelming power… I just don't understand. It says that today is the day that we should see some kind of output."

Within moments of what the man had said that. Little Grace felt her sink crawl from something within her body wanting to come out. An unknown energy that wanted to break out of her hands. It was enough to feel pain building from her very essence of her body.

"Please," little Grace gasped out. "It hurts…"

From there the dream went from a little girl quivering on the floor to shaking and screaming to let the pain go. Once she could not hold on the pain anymore. A burst of energy left her body causing the place to be flooded with bright light. Before finding the dead bodies of the scientists that were nearby. It was enough to cause another round of nightmares of its own.

After months of testing, Grace had learned to hate the name of Zeref. It was the one name that she had learned from the scientists. The one name that she learned that would be the undoing for the human race.

"Grace," asked Lucy with worry within her eyes. "What's going on?"

"Promise me, Lucy." Grace glanced into the emotion full brown eyes. "Stay away from Zeref." A couple of tears leaked out of her eyes. "His journal made me who I am today."

"No," gasped the young woman before her. "The scientists were playing with the knowledge of the Dark Wizard?"

Grace nodded, blocking out the pity that she knew would be in Lucy's eyes. It was one of the few things that she was never willing to talk to Lucy about. Knowing that she would see something in her eyes. A look that might break her from wanting to face another day.

Grace sighed, "I think it's about time that we start heading home."

"But we have another day or two before we head home."

"Sorry Lucy, but I need to get away from anything that Zeref or his followers had touched." Grace glanced up to look at her sister in the eyes. "Please, I just can't…"

Lucy smiled, "Alright, I'll go home with you."

The Auburn haired woman shook her head. "Stay here and enjoy your time with your friends." She gave a small smile. "Please Lucy, enjoy this time with your friends." She gotten upon her feet and grabbed everything and placed them into her bag. "Don't let my bad memories drag you down."

"Where are you going?!"

Grace picked up her bag, glancing to the blond. "I think I should head home."

"What about letting the others know?"

The elder girl sighed, "Let them rest, Lucy. They had a taxing fight, tonight. I'll see you back at home." She then opened the door and closed it behind her. She went down the hall, only to be stopped by the pink haired slayer.

"Where are you going, Grace?" He glanced behind her. "Why is Lucy, crying?"

Grace sighed, "I know you could hear us talking, Natsu. So do me the favor and stop with the act."

He growled for a moment before he closed his eyes for a moment. "I understand that you want to run from Zeref and his followers. But you have to understand that no one from Fairy Tail would allow you to get harmed from the Dark Wizard again."

Grace could see from the look in his Onyx eyes that he told the truth. But the dark memories of her past was enough for her to want to get away from being close to the Tower of Heaven. It wasn't because of hearing it from Lucy about what had gone on. Even though a part of her had wished that she was there to prevent Jellal from taking over the tower. 'It would sure help with the anger that I feel right now.'

"It's not just the fear that I have for Zeref, Natsu. It's also the anger that I would have like to use against those that you've fought tonight." She glanced up to see his understanding. "Please understand that I have a lot of emotion to work on and I just don't want to harm anyone, if my magic takes over again."

"When you put it that way, then we'll see you at home." He gave a heartwarming smile. "But know this, we'll take up a job together."

"Understood," with that Grace moved around him and head down the stairs. When she reached the front doors, allowing the night air to reach her face. She glanced around. Trying to remember where the station was and followed a path that she remembered.

'If the Council had unleashed out that power upon the tower, then one must ask. What other power do they have to destroy the world with?'

When she had gotten to the train station, she bought a ticket and stepped on board. She found a seat, not really caring where but sat down. Grace glanced up to see, who was sitting across from her and wished she should have sat somewhere else. Something told her that he was dangerous.

"Oh, I'm dangerous, sweetheart." His voice sounded like a bourbon and honey, sweet with a bark. The man chuckled. "Glad to know what my voice sounds like…"

Grace's eyebrow raised, 'I don't think I've said anything.'

"You haven't but it's hard to ignore your soul." His lip pulled at one side of his face, showing a shape looking smirk. "But I must ask, what brings you out riding the rails at this hour of the night?"

Grace sighed, "I had too much of the beach."

"Liar," the maroon haired man with lavender looking eyes. He looked snake like. "But I'll let you lie about that. Being around anything of Zeref's can be overwhelming."

"Name," growled out Grace. She had a feeling of who it was, but wanting to make sure.

"Cobra, your soul told me that you ran into Lahar." He chuckled some more. "I can't believe that stupid for nothing of a man, had believed that you're my sister."

"What else does my soul tells you?"

Cobra gave a sad looking smile. "Stupid wack jobs that call themselves scientists tormenting a little girl." He turned towards the window. "Almost as sad as me growing up as a slave." He glanced towards her again. "Interesting, I don't hear or see you taking pity on me. Why?"

Grace glanced down towards her hands. "I get that all the time from my sister. I can feel sorry for the similarities of our pasts but that is all I can do."

He nodded, "Makes sense but she's not really your sister. So why allow a lie to live on?"

That was when she looked into his eyes. "It's not really a lie, when you grew up with someone. Someone that you've always seen as a sister." She smiled as she shook her head before looking out her own window. "I guess I'm selfish on that part. Wanting to hold onto something that was good in my life."

"No," Cobra whispered, it was enough for her to hear. "I don't think that's selfish. I see it as holding the one person that you've known to keep your light going." He glanced towards her heart. "I don't think your soul would be as bright as it is now if you didn't have her. I don't see souls but I hear it. Music like none that I've ever heard before…"

Grace forced herself to look at him again. She saw him relaxed with a small smile. 'He looks handsome like that. Oh, stop it Grace, your Gajeel's mate. Can't really check out other guys, even though you're not really with the guy.'

"Gajeel, as in Black Steel Gajeel?"

"Yeah, what about him?"

Cobra whistled, "The Iron Slayer had found his mate." He shook his head. "The last time I've talked with him, he never would have believed in finding his mate." He looked into her blue-green eyes. "Gajeel is a lucky man if you're together."

'If he had talked to Gajeel, was it back when he was still in Phantom Lord?' She took a glanced towards him and saw the surprised look on his face. 'Is he seeing how Gajeel and I had met? I guess it would be a shock.'

Cobra made a gulping sound, "Shit! You came out of nowhere and sank your claws into him and he demands you to be his mate." He whistled once more. "Dang, I knew he was into some kinky stuff but that was beyond what I knew about him."

Grace smiled, "It could also be the fact that he fell for a strong willed woman?"

Cobra grabbed his stomach as he laughed. "That could also be it." Once he had calmed down. "If I wasn't afraid of not wanting to go back to my guild. I would come and join Gajeel."

"Why are you afraid of your guild?"

Cobra grumbled, "It's not my guild, it's more about the master of my guild." His eyes darken from his deep thoughts. "He saved me and few others while we were kids. Every one of us was slaves and he took us in. If I didn't feel obligated, I would leave."

Grace leaned onto her legs, she was intrigued on what she was learning about him. "He wants you to do bad things?"

"More like taking over the world," he stated with a chuckle. His eyes glistened. "Making us feel like we're on top and not graveling on the ground. I've always hated the rich bastards in the world. Eating massive amounts of food, allowing scraps being wasted while others need food."

Grace nodded, "I can understand that. But not all are like that, I've seen a few that help out poor families." She smiled, "I even helped some poor families while I was on the road."

"Good for you," his voice didn't sound sarcastic like it wanted it to be. But more on the warm side. "Tell me Grace Heartfilia, what would your sister think about you talking to a known criminal?"

'I guess that would explain why Lahar was looking for him. Sure he held danger within his aura. Sexy as hell from the way he looks, which I was told to cautious on the better lookers. They were mainly no good. But what makes him a criminal? Oh because of his guild master, wanting to rule the world.'

"For a woman like yourself, you're very intelligent." He gave a smirk, which caused her to shiver. "You should come with me. We could use your smarts with a project that we're working on."

"No thank you," she stated harshly. "I don't think world domination looks good on me."

"Who said you had a choice?"

"Who said I would be willing to go with you?"

Cobra laughed some more, "I have my associates with me, sweetheart." He glanced around the train car. "They're all in this car with us."

Grace looked around and noticed the few people that were around them. A young woman with short white hair, giving her a wink. A skinny man with a large nose, nodding towards her. A very large man gave a wave. A weird looking person, who she could not figure if it was a man or woman on a floating carpet glaring at Cobra. Then there was a guy that creeped her out, holding a skull looking staff.

Grace sighed, she knew she might not be able to fight all of them at once. Especially when she had no idea of their strengths or weaknesses. Plus fighting on a train would be hard. If she knew enough of Cobra, he would take her out before she made a move. Just because he could hear things.

"Yep, no point in fighting us." He leaned towards her with a smirk, causing her to lean as far back in her seat. "Don't worry, sweetheart. None of them would hurt you."

"Speak for yourself, Cobra," spoke the guy on the carpet.

"That's enough Midnight," stated the scary guy in charge. "We wouldn't want to scare her, while we may need her."

"What do you want," she asked with heat in her voice.

"To be our hostage," stated the man in charge.

Cobra sighed, "Brain, do you think she'll play that kind of game?"

"She will if she doesn't want her sister harm." Brain turned towards Grace with an evil glint in his eyes. "You'll do as we say, as long as it keeps your sister safe."

Grace closed her eyes, "What do you want?"

Cobra through a communication crystal towards her. "Call your guild master and tell him what's going on."

Grace glared at him before placing her hands on each side of it, allowing her magic to activate it. "Master Dryer of Fairy Tail."

A moment later, the face of the short man came into view. "Grace! What's going on?"

"Master, I've found myself kidnapped."

"I thought you were with Natsu and his team at the beach."

"I was, until I ran into a man name Cobra."

The Fairy Tail master gave a glare, "Show me, child."

Grace handed the crystal to Cobra, who glanced at the elder man. "Hello Fairy Tail, I'm Cobra of the Oración Seis. We are taking Grace Heartfilia from you. Hoping she'll help us without dragging her sister into this as well."

"What are your demands?"

Cobra chuckled, "None that you can give. Just let her sister know that she is held up somewhere." He glanced towards Grace. "Anything else you would like to add, sweetheart?"

"Master," she called out and heard his grunt to continue. "Watch out for Lucy for me."

"I will child…"

Cobra killed the connection of the communication crystal and placed it inside of his long jacket. He glanced up to see her wiggle from her seat. "Don't be nervous, we won't hurt you. As long as you do as you're told that is."

The only thing she could do was give him a glare. She knew she did not have any options but to do so. She did not know who, other than those in the car that worked with him. Meaning, she believed that there were other guilds that worked for them.

"You're right, there are many guilds that work for us." His smirk only grew. "Very smart indeed."

'I really hate Zeref. The only reason I left the resort was because of him. And because of him, I've met these people.'

Cobra just laughed at her, allowing the rocking of the train to cause her to lay down on the bench that she was on. She found no energy to use. There was no reason to fight.