Just Misunderstood
Chapter 9
Gray's eyes were trained on the ground in front of him. The loose pieces of rock suddenly becoming more interesting than the tall trees around him. His arms flexed painfully against the rough ropes that ate away at his bare skin. He felt so empty, so incredibly hollow. The ice inside of him silent as the ropes caged it away. He leaned forward, letting his weight go to his knees, the hard gravel becoming even more uncomfortable as he focused on it. He looked up at the trees, the green leaves swaying as if mocking him, showing off that they can move when he couldn't. His eyes darted to flowers dancing playfully by his knee, the purple petals so painfully beautiful.
He tried to focus on anything. Anything other than what was pounding so horribly loud in the back of his head.
Lucy.
He almost verbally cursed as he let it snap into the front of his mind. His blue eyes suddenly met brown as he caught Erza's. She was bound to a tree to his far right. Her armor was cutting viciously into her arm and her discomfort was visible on her face. Her eyes moved away, closing, then opening to the ground. She was watching ants that were marching silently in a line, her usually lively eyes were dull, the light in them gone.
Gray felt Natsu behind him, his body heat obvious even with his magic bound. But that may have been because of the physical rage that was coming off of him in actual waves. His breathing was heavy like the air around them.
"That wasn't Lucy," her voice came shakey, both onyx and blue eyes turned to her. Red hair was falling in waves on the sides of her face. Creating a curtain that shielded her from them.
"But she should've been back already. It had been nine months. It was time." Natsu's voice was smooth, smoother than it should've been.
"She would've come to back to us. She wouldn't have run off to join a dark guild. That wasn't her. That couldn't have been her. It was an illusion or a spell. That wasn't Lucy." Gray's own voice was foreign to his ears.
He shifted again, and his jaw clenched as he felt warm blood run down his skin, the rope that was wrapped tight around his upper arms and chest was becoming even tighter as he breathed. His eyes watched as the blood dripped off his arm onto the purple flowers below.
~JM~
Cobra sat there, his knees pressing into the soft dirt below. His mind was racing, her thoughts swirling with his own. He suddenly felt like he was drowning in every single thought and feeling that he had be blocked from.
He was suddenly in a crumbling tower, a tall, tan man he recalled as Gajeel Redfox stood in front of him. "You guys are complete idiots! I feel so sorry for you, I think I'm tearing up. Phantom Lord? What a joke; I'm not afraid of you at all!" He heard Lucy's voice mock. The sound of it sent chills down his back, it was so broken but strong. The way it cracked physically hurt his chest, he could almost hear the pain in it, the bruises on her body and the cuts in her skin.
Then he was somewhere else, he was surrounded by tall bookcases, exotic pillars held the ceiling up, cream wallpaper lined the walls. A man stood behind a tall desk, his brown suit lacking even a single wrinkle. His hand was flat on the table, his eyes slightly wide, and then her voice rang out again. "There's nothing happy about having your fate decided for you! You have to grab your own happiness!" His face constricted into a mask of rage and confusion. But before he could speak Lucy spoke up. "Never lay a finger on Fairy Tail again. The next time you do, I...everyone in the guild will consider you as our enemy!" Her hands reached up and she gripped the pretty white lace lining her dress and with one swift tug the fabric ripped. "What I want isn't money or pretty dresses, but a place that recognizes me as who I am. Fairy Tail is my other family, and it is a far more warming family than here!"
Cobra dug deep, his ears, his soul, reaching for more. Then the air changed, the moisture in it becoming heavy, he opened his eyes and found that he was surrounded by water, he stood on an outstretch of land that jutted out into a circular waterfall. Lucy was collapsed on the ground, her arms wrapped around, what he knew was the Lion spirit. Lucy was hunched over him, and her voice was shrill. "I said I'm going to save you no matter what! I can force open the Gate to the Spirit World, watch me!" She screamed as a large column of light was released from her body, the pillar launching seemingly, endlessly into the sky.
"It won't open! Celestial Spirits who've disobeyed humans they have contracts with can't go back to the spirit world!" His voice yelled out, his arms wrapped around her as she screamed louder. "Lucy! You have to stop! You're starting to merge with the spirit energy! If you keep this up you'll disappear with me!" Tears filled his eyes as he watched her continue. "Please! Lucy! Don't add to my sins!"
"What sin? Caring for your friend's feelings is not a sin! If you disappear, then Aries, myself, and everyone here will be filled with sadness! You won't be repenting your sin that way! And if that's a rule in the spirit world then I'll just have to change it!" She screamed.
Then everything was a blur again as time and space twisted around them. When it stalled they were in the same spot, but a large gate stood tall behind them, and gold strings of magic were connecting the lion to it. His smile said everything, the warmth in it showing his love for Lucy, romantic or otherwise, it didn't matter, the lion truly loved her. Lucy's tears were present in her eyes as the lion took her hand.
"Thank you so much, Lucy I look forward to working with you. And being your backbone," he said as he began to vanish in a shower of gold.
"Me too, Loke," and as he disappeared a single gold key was left in her hand.
Cobra physically flinched back as tears fell from his eyes. He violently wiped them away, not only was he seeing her memories but he was feeling her feelings as well. He huffed as he moved on. To the next memory, that has made her who she is.
He was standing in, what was obviously a guild hall. He stood on the second floor, and a crowd of people stood below, most of them had tears forming in their eyes. "Bye, everyone. I'll see you soon." Lucy's voice was soft and she sounded defeated. A golden magic circle was present below her and it flashed and blinded them all as she disappeared into a pillar of that same gold.
Then, all in a blur, he saw her entire visit in the spirit world, her training, her feelings, her relationship with her spirits, everything. He saw and felt her lacrima being implemented. He felt her complete devastation when she found out her guild was gone. Saw and felt every moment of guilt every, every ping of resentment, every fake smile, every real cry. He learned about her mother, her family, her guild. He learned of her growing love for them all, a respect and admiration for him. He was taken aback by that, he was a monster, a jerk, a criminal. And although she didn't know this, he learned that she would be okay with it.
Cobra leaned and sat back, his hands digging into the dirt below. He stared at the necklace in his hand, the usual swirling magic in it completely static. "This was from the spirit king." He reached up to the beaded necklace on his own neck. "These were for your guild." He voiced aloud. He almost chuckled, "Well, Lucy Heartfillia, don't you have an amazing story to tell." He leaned forward to clip the necklace back on her neck and she was silenced by the magical barrier. Her thoughts and memories being hidden from him once again.
~JM~
Lucy awoke with a shrill scream.
Her body moved before she thought she did and she was suddenly on her feet. She noticed Cobra jump up with her but paid him no mind. Lucy figured she had passed out again, that was happening way too much for her liking, but she knew what had happened, she must have just overworked herself again. Her lacrima was still freshly implanted, that must be it.
Must be.
She seemed to try and convince herself. Like somewhere deep down she knew that that wasn't it this time, after all, her back felt fine, and so did her magic. She stopped her musings then took a step to the side as the magic in the air changed, and the air next to her got really cold for a split second before Brain appeared in a flurry of green. When the magic cleared, in his arms was a small girl. She was unconscious and sweat beaded her face, her long blue hair hung free behind her.
Cobra's eyes widened as he realized just who was in his Master's arms. "Brain. That's the sky maiden," he said aloud.
Angel and Racer appeared next to them, Angel helping to hold up the man. Hoteye wasn't long behind them and Midnight had gotten there somewhere in between. He sat on his rug, his arms crossed, and his eyes open as he watched the young girl. "Who," she paused, "Who is the sky maiden?" Lucy asked.
"Ah, she is the key to everything. Well, more precisely she is the key to the key." Brain spoke up, he handed the girl to Cobra who awkwardly held her in his arms. His face was one of pure annoyance.
"I don't do kids," his voice was more than irritated. And he grumbled something about having to carry her.
"Oh shut up, give her to me." Lucy rolled her eyes as she scooped the little girl up and adjusted her on her back. Cobra sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets.
Brain was zoning out on the ground, his eyes becoming interested in the pebble there. "We must get to him quickly. Now that the light guilds have brought her to me, the Sky Maiden can wake him up."
Cobra heard it, but he couldn't react fast enough, and in a blur of red he had a sword to his throat. His eyes met brown, as he looked down at her. She was like a feral beast, wild savagery present in her eyes. Her scarlet hair was loose and unruly as it shifted in the wind. Her silver sword drew blood as the point nicked his skin.
"What do you need Wendy for?" It was a question that needed an answer, her eyes demanding it. Cobra smiled as he heard it.
The spell clicking into place.
The red head flew back as she dodged the slash of gold. Purple prominences filled the air as Lucy lunged forward her, magic almost devouring the air around her. Erza's eyes were wide as her vision finally connected with her mind.
"Lucy?" She whispered. But it wasn't, Erza could tell, she looked like Lucy but it was just another trick like before. The redhead growled. "Playing a trick like that won't work the second time!" She yelled.
Lucy laughed, "What are you talking about?" She lunged towards Erza but the redhead surrounded herself in white magic before she reappeared in a new armor, the purgatory set present on her skin. The large sword swung out, and Lucy leaped back. Her hands were enveloped in magic as she launched a purple orb at the women. Erza went up to block it with her sword but the orb exploded mere centimeters in front of her weapon, a whirl pool opening and sucking the blade into another world. Lucy grabbed two keys, both in one hand as she teleported herself behind the women, "Leo! Scorpio!" She called as she created a fist of magical energy and hurled it down at the redhead. The lion and scorpion appeared and sand was shot from one direction and golden energy from the other. Lucy smiled as she had the girl trapped, no weapon, and no way to escape.
Suddenly a sword filled her vision, two actually. They went out to block the attacks and then she sprung up and backed away. Her swords ready in front of her.
"She's like Erza." Lucy said quietly. "I wasn't sure but now I am," Lucy stood in between her two spirits. And she could feel Loke's cold gaze on her but she didn't seem to care enough to meet his eyes. "You know~" Lucy began. "You have the prettiest black hair. Oh, and your green eyes are gorgeous." Lucy pointed out, the woman was beautiful, she had to admit.
Erza was taken aback. "What?" She looked at the ends of her hair, and, as she thought, it was still red. "What are you talking about?"
Brain laughed behind them, his shoulders shaking as he did so. He grinned as he picked up Wendy where she had been tossed, and without effort he threw her over his shoulder. "The spell is working wonderfully." He looked at Cobra and tilted his head towards the direction of the cave.
The dragon slayer nodded and watched them all disappear in a flurry of magic. "Lucillia," he began, "we gotta go," the said woman looked back towards him, her eyes glowing a brilliant gold, but he could see the cloudiness in them that proved the spell had indeed taken effect.
"Awe~ Already?" She pouted. Cobra physically flinched back, the spell was even changing the way she spoke, it was turning into something she wasn't, "I wanted to see her bleed."
"Yeah, I know, babe, but come on, we gotta wake him." He said as he came up and placed a hand on her shoulder. He totally didn't mean to say babe but it had come out and now it was there. No taking it back now. It seemed to just be a reaction to the whine in her voice.
"Okay," her lip stuck out. "Where too?" She asked already summoning her magic.
"The cave," he whispered. She nodded and grabbed his hand, she covered them both in her magic. Erza leaped forward her swords out to attack them both, but with a pair of smirks, they vanished into a cloud of gold.
Erza's sword hit the ground and she collapsed, almost pleased that they were gone. She had hated that. It looked so much like Lucy, even the magic was the same, but it was just another trick like before. After all, that couldn't have been Lucy, the way she acted was completely different, and the magic she used. Yeah, she could still call out spirits but there was more. And Erza didn't like it. She couldn't fight this girl with all her strength, not when she looked so much like her best friend. Then Erza cursed, her body slumping to the ground even more. "They got Wendy," She said quietly.
~JM~
Lucy nearly passed out again as she and Cobra appeared in the cave, the heavy air already making it hard for her lungs to fill and deflate. She let go of her companion and leaned against the wall. She held her head as a splitting ache filled it. She closed her eyes and slumped to the floor.
"Just breath, You stressed your body a little too much. Your body's still weak from your training." He couldn't look her in the eye as he lied.
"Yeah I got that," she mumbled back.
"And hey, I thought you could only teleport to places you can see."
"Yeah, I thought that too but I had no trouble imagining a gate here, so maybe if I've been to the place before it's easier," she shrugged and he nodded. She stayed there, her breathing beginning to even out. And he watched her, it was so different now that he knew everything that she had been through, just how hard she had worked, everything she had lost and given up.
Cobra stood there awkwardly, his presence there obviously not needed. But before he left her alone in the dark room he said this, "You should make up with your Lion spirit. He misses you and you miss him." And before she could respond he was gone.
Lucy huffed as she watched the empty spot where he just was. She knew he was right, she knew Loke loved her. They were friends, companions, the Lion was and forever will be one of her most trusted allies and the way she had treated him was horrible.
He hadn't of deserved that. So, throwing aside her pride she went for his key. And as her fingers brushed against it a brilliant flash filled the room, and there he stood. His dress shoes, his pants, his tucked in shirt, his jacket, his tie. His sunglasses, his orange hair. His face held a small frown and his arms were crossed over his chest. But he held her gaze, his beautiful green eyes locked with her own brown ones. He didn't say anything, and neither did Lucy. There were no words needed. Tears welded up in Lucy's eyes and she ran towards him, her arms spread. His face morphed into a mask of surprise. And he opened his arms.
She collided with his chest almost violently, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her head in his chest. She sobbed as she hugged him, and he could've laughed. He wrapped his arms around her and bent down, hugging her tight and nuzzling her hair. "Loke! I'm so sorry!" She sobbed, her voice cracked so bad he almost couldn't understand her. He laughed and pulled away, he looked at her watery face as he pushed her hair away.
"I know," was all he said as he pulled her back to him. They both slumped to the ground as she sobbed, her tears wetting his coat but he didn't care. Tears built in his own eyes, "I know. I know."
Lucy laughed as she cried, her arms wrapping around him again. They sat there for a while, just crying into each other's arms. "You've become so strong," he whispered. He kissed her forehead and pulled away, "I'm so proud of you."
She laughed as she wiped her face, "You say as I'm sobbing into your chest."
"Oh, that's the best time to say it." He smirked and she giggled and hugged him again.
"I love you Loke, you'll always be my family," she whispered.
"I love you too Lucy."
Cobra stood against the cave wall, his ears picking up the interaction. They really had an amazing bond, they lit up each other's worlds in a way a lover or friend could never do. It was a truly beautiful thing, and as he looked down to the ground he didn't notice the sad smile that crossed his face. Cobra patted Cubellios' head as he walked away.
The Loke and Lucy scene is dedicated to Carchee :)
