Chapter 3

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Flashback

Location / Date / Time Skip

The flare shined high in the sky as the three looked up at it. Coco raced forward and passed Lucy before hitting Kageyama in the back, knocking the piece out of his hand. She caught it as the giant octopus, Sugarboy and Byro landed. The church girls climbed up and Mary stuck her tongue out. "Later losers!" She teased as the octopus jumped into the air.

"Oh, no you don't. Hook Shadows!" Grappling hooks made of shadows shot up and latched onto the tentacles. Byro waved his staff and the spell faded. The octopus flew away, leaving an angered man and a depressed blonde.

Fairy Tail Guildhall

"Zentopia did this?" Cana asked her father at the guild hall.

"Why would the largest church go after us?" Macao asked.

"No clue, but the guy I fought said something about a holy war." Gildarts replied.

"That doesn't matter any more." Natsu said, standing up. "What matters is that they stole from one of our members."

"I'm sorry." Michelle said. "I should have done more."

"Don't blame yourself, Michelle." Lucy said.

"Does anyone have any idea why they wanted that clock piece?" Kageyama asked, only to get no answer.

"A series of attacks before the Zentopia founding festival... A clock hand inscribed in ancient language... The legion platoons assault... and now a holy war..." Makarov mumbled. "I don't like this."

"Well they need to pay!" Jouki shouted.

"Could anyone follow them?" Gray asked.

The doors opened and Talon walked in, covered in ink. "They got away." He said. "Had that thing blast me with ink the second they spotted me. Have no clue where they went."

"We need to hunt them down." Gray said.

"We need information. All we know is that they mentioned a holy war, and that the stole the clock piece." Erza spoke up. "So why do they need it?"

Lucy opened up a book and began flipping through it. "This clock is real, and somewhere in the world."

"So is it the chaos it talks about real?" Cana asked. "There has to be something we can do."

"We need to find more clue." Lucy said.

"Maybe they're looking for other parts of the clock." Michelle said.

"I say we find their hideout and make them talk." Gray said.

"My fortune telling might help." Cana said.

"Everyone else, start looking for clues." Natsu said, making most of the guild nod. "Gildarts, can I talk to you for a second outside?"

"Sure." The ace agreed and stood up.

"Wonder what that's about?" Gray asked, as the two left the building.

"If the master is doing this, its something important." Talon said, having washed the ink off.

"I know this is hard, but you're the only one with the power needed for this job." Natsu said. "But that doesn't mean you're going alone." Laki stepped forward and the two walked away from the guild.

2 Days Later

Natsu and everyone else stared at the shrunken Kageyama sitting no Happy's head. "Oh, my." Mirajane said, trying not to laugh. Jouki reached up to grab him, but Juvia pulled her son back.

"This is kinda uncomfortable." Happy complained.

"Hey Max, check it out." Gray chuckled. "Now we have life-like action figure to sell."

"I am not a toy!" The shadow user said before getting grabbed by Asuka.

Everyone laughed as the little girl played with the mini man while Jouki demanded a turn. "Would you all pipe down? I'm trying to concentrate." Lucy said, going back to her book. "Well, it seems like my dad followed this story to the letter."

"What does that mean by that?" Erza asked.

"I'm say thats there's more fact than fiction in this." The blonde said, holding up the book. "The key of the starry heavens is about a little girl who goes in search for six keys, because its said they bring happiness if they're all connected. The thing is, in finding her happiness the little girl brings sorrow and misery to everyone else."

"What kind of kids book is that?" Happy asked.

"How does the story begin?" Erza asked.

"According to this, 'the first key takes a journey'." The blonde answered.

"Does it mean like how Michelle brought it here?" Talon asked.

Lucy nodded before opening the book again. "In the story, the little girl decides to go and find the other five keys. One by one, she finds them. Then she finds the last one after she travels to a cathedral."

"A cathedral? You don't think-" Erza asked.

"It's not the cardia cathedral here in Magnolia. In fact, it's no where near us." Lucy said."My dad might have realized this before me and hidden the clock pieces there. Did he mention any this, Michelle?"

"No, I'm sorry." Her cousin said. "Mr. Jude was always very quite."

"In any case, I'm certain if we go to the locations in the book we'll find the pieces." Lucy said. "I'm not sure what the Legion Platoon wants with the clock pieces, but it can't be good. If this chaos thing is for real, we can't just sit back and let them do whatever they please."

The guild stared at her before everyone volunteered to help her. "Give me a little bit and I'll throw some teams together." Natsu said.

Days Later

A single boat sailed away from Hargeon with five Fairy Tail wizards aboard it. "How far away is this key that we need a boat?" Kageyama asked, sitting on a table.

"I don't know, but I just hope we don't have to fight with this lame team." Happy said.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Romeo asked.

"Look at us. We have a tiny terror, a blonde bimbo, a little kid and a goody two-shoes." Happy pointed. "If we run into any trouble, like those legion platoon guys, I'm the only one who's gonna be able to put up a fight. I don't know what Natsu was thinking."

"I can fight!" Romeo protested. "Natsu has personally trained me in fire magic!"

Lucy looked out over the railing and stared at the sea. "Towards chaos... why would anyone want that?" The blonde asked.

"Excuse me." Four people walked forward in standard pith outfits walked forward. "Might you members of Fairy Tail?"

"Yes, who are you?" Michelle asked.

"We are members of an prestigious archeological society." The tallest member said. "And we know what Fairy Tail is up to, searching for pieces of a legendary clock. Is that true?"

The guild members gasped in shock at the statement. "Where did you hear this?" Michelle asked before her mind instantly went to traitor theories.

"What do you want?" Romeo asked.

"We'd very much appreciate it if you would call off your search." The leader said. "According to the data we've gathered, the pieces have been scattered around the world in shrines and ruins. We know this because we've studied the same book you have. This proves that the book actually points to several real life locations."

"...Yeah, I figured that out as a kid." Lucy said, stunning the group. "And I'm not giving up this journey. This is something my father wanted me to do. He waited for seven long years for me to return. He believe I could keep the world safe from falling into chaos so he left the task to me! His daughter and no one else! I can't just forget that!"

The wind picked up and knocked Kageyama over board. The men in pith outfits jumped over and threw him on board, while also dispelling the shrinking magic. "Your speech moved us, miss Lucy. Our hearts go with you, as does our luck." The wizards waved good bye as the ship sailed away.

The group stared out over the desert as Romeo spotted something in the distance. "Hey, what's that?"

"I think that's our target." Kageyama said. "Let's go."

The group walked up and found a strange floating object over the sand. "I think its some kind of door, but I think its enchanted." Lucy said.

"Not a problem." Kageyama cracked his knuckles and held out a hand. A seal appeared and a lock went off before the sand began spiraling and swallowed them all. The group landed in a stone chamber blocked only by a single door. "Sorry about that. You guys okay?"

"Well, we're still alive." Romeo groaned out.

"So how do we get out of here now?" Happy asked. "After Kageyama screwed up last time, I don't think I want him to do his unsealing again."

"I didn't screw up!" Kageyama shouted.

"I think this is one of doors where you just say a magic word and it opens." Lucy said, turning to the door. "Let's see... 'Open Sesame!'." Nothing happened and she started shouting random phrases.

"Why not just ask to let us in?" Romeo suggested, making the door open. They entered into a chamber filled with the Zentiopia emblem.

Lucy turned an emblem on a pillar only to trigger a trap. Pillars and giant faces began moving out intent on crushing them. "Everyone, group up!" Kageyama shouted. Everyone gathered around him before they sank into a shadow. The pillars hit and then faded back, letting the group rise up.

"Okay, lets try this way." Lucy spun it around, only for the faces to reappear. "Now what?"

"Quick, mister Kageyama. Can't you do the same thing as before?" Michelle asked.

"The more people I use it on, the more magic it uses." The shadow mage replied. "And I still haven't recovered from earlier."

"May i be of assistance?" Virgo in a bikini asked.

"Just make a hole in the floor!" Lucy shouted, only to scream as they fell down. They hit the hard surface of the ground and groaned in pain before pushing themselves up. "Everyone okay?"

"I think so..." Romeo groaned before pushing himself up. "Where are we?"

"Looks like some kind of weird tomb." Kageyama said as Virgo handed Lucy a new whip. "I guess we should get moving."

"Hey, check it out. This face looks like Gray." Happy said, carrying a face.

A click was heard before the ground started shaking and everyone watched in horror as a giant boulder began rolling after them. "Run!" Romeo shouted before they reached a broken bridge.

"Jump!" Kageyama shouted before forcing the others into the air. The boulder missed them before he turned. "Happy, grab Michelle. Lucy, time to test that new whip. Romeo, copy me. Hook Shadow!" A shadow grappling hook shot out of his arm and wrapped around a column of rock. Romeo and Lucy did the same before seeing Happy float into view with Michelle. "Well... guess we start climbing down."

After what felt like hours, the group finally reached the bottom of their pillars. "This looks like a city." Happy mumbled. "How are we supposed to find a tiny clock piece in a place this big?"

"We've got bigger problems than that." Kageyama said. Everyone followed his eyes to see Dan and Coco standing above them.

"Not this clown again!" Lucy shouted as she hid behind Michelle.

"Let me guess, you guys read the book too?" Kageyama asked.

"Yep, and it says a piece of the clock is right here." Dan said.

"And I'm guessing you losers haven't found it yet." Coco added.

The armored man glanced over and saw Lucy, sending him into a love struck stupor. "Will you take this seriously!?" Shadows sprang between him and his shield before Kageyama punched him in the face. "You aren't gonna beat me like last time. Knuckle Shadow!" Shadowy fists sprang out and punched Dan repeatedly.

"You dare stand in the way of my love with Miss Lulu-pumpkin!?" Dan braced himself and thrust his spear forward, only for it to go through him. "What the-?" The man turned to shadows and angered Dan.

"Quick, there's no way that'll hold them for long." Kageyama said as the group raced away.

"Let's just find what we came here." Lucy said only for Dan to pop out in front of them. "Back off!"

"Hold on." Coco raced up from behind. "Before this flirting gets out of hand, you and I need to find that clock piece. We were sent here on mission or did you forget that Samuel only told you the location of the piece?"

"I'm on another mission; a mission of love!" The knight shouted.

"Wow, this guys annoying." Kageyama punched the shield and it worked, pushing Dan back.

"That worked?" Happy asked.

"Of course it did. The shield only reflects magic attacks, not physical ones." The shadow user replied before dodging a thrust from the spear. The point hit Lucy and shrunk her down to action figure size. "I'm sorry! I never meant for this to happen, my love!"

Library of Magic

The four women looked up at the size of the tower. Erza opened the door and the group gasped at the sheer volume of tomes inside. "Hold on, this place looks like its been visited." Cana said, looking at the books on the ground.

"That's not possible." Erza said. "Only someone in our guild would even come here."

"Needle Blast!" A purple creature punched the ground, forcing the girls back. "I knew I smelled fairies."

"Who are you?" Erza asked, drawing her blade.

"We're from Raven Tail." Another voice said from behind. Erza turned a blocked a blade that matched her own. "Or at least we were before you came along!" Erza pushed back and he flipped over her, landing next to the purple dwarf.

"After what that pink-haired brat did to Master Ivan, we've had no choice but to go on the run." Nullpudding declared. "For seven years we've been on the run. But after hearing about your little clock quest, We deiced to get revenge!"

He charged at the group before Cana threw three cards, forcing him back. "Wendy, Carla. You two go look for the clock piece. Cana and I will deal with them." Erza declared.

The two nodded before racing away from the fight, reaching the location Lucy described. "So what now, Carla?" Wendy asked. "We don't even know what this piece is supposed to look like."

"I suggest we start looking." Carla said, flying up towards the top of the shelf.

With Lucy's Group

"Just shut up and turn me back to normal!" The blonde shouted before Dan picked her up and hung her from his side.

"Now I'm fighting with the heart of a lion. So fall!" He thrust his spear and forced Kageyama to dodge. Lucy spun around on a string and almost threw up before a fowl smell filled the air. "Oh, God! What's that smell!? It's like infected cheese on a hot grill!"

"What's going on?" Lucy complained as everyone held their noses.

"The Stink Shadow Snake Technique." The blonde glanced behind to see Romeo holding a yellow flame under Dan.

"Orochi Shadow!" Kageyama summoned a swarm of snakes that attacked the armored warrior. They bounced off his shield only to curve around and attach again. One snuck around and plucked Lucy off her string before tossing her to Happy.

"Give me back my bride!" Dan shouted before thrusting his spear forward. Lucy fell to the ground in her normal size only to turn and stare in horror at the giant Happy. "Guess my hand slipped..."

"Guys, help me!" Happy shouted as he stepped on Romeo. "Sorry." The cat took the air and flew around, trying not to crush anyone. Dan jumped into the air and stabed the cat again, returning it to the normal size.

"Perfect. Now we can go looking for the piece." Lucy said, reaching into her bag and pulling out the book. "This should help us figure out some clues. Or at least point us in the right direction."

"Hand it over, blondie!" Coco shouted before racing over to the group. Romeo shot some fire at her and the group raced away before Dan jumped down. Kageyama stayed behind and fought the knight as the others ran.

Coco raced after them before Lucy bumped into a statue, triggering a trap. The floor opened up and everyone but Happy fell in a hole. They hung on to the side before Lucy handed the book to Michelle. "Grab my hand." The blonde offered... before the rock under her broke and sent both tumbling down.

"Lucy! Are you okay!?" Michelle shouted down.

"I'm still alive!" Lucy replied. "Don't worry about me! You guys just hurry up and find that clock piece! We'll meet up eventually, I'm sure." The group agreed and left before the blonde turned to Coco and offered her hand only to have it swatted away.

"Get away from me!" Coco replied. "In case you haven't noticed, your help is why we're in this mess."

"Watch your mouth, girl, or I'm gonna do a whole lot worse!" Lucy shouted back. "What is with the attitude? You know I meet someone who looks and sounds a lot like you, except she wasn't such a brat!"

"Well, that wasn't me so get over it." Coco replied before walking away.

With a huff of anger, Lucy caught up to her. "So, what exactly is the Legion Platoon after the clock pieces anyway? What's with all this 'Holy War' and 'chaos' stuff?"

"If you don't even know that, then why are you after them?" Coco snapped back.

"We're just trying to figure everything out." The blonde replied. "And honor my father's dying." She stepped on a trap and stone spikes shot up. Coco tackled her to the ground and saved her life before they continued, talking about the OTHER Coco.

They soon reached a dead end and Coco pressed the face on the statue. A large block fell down and crashed onto Coco, trapping her. The blonde pulled her out and looked up to see her friends above her. Romeo used his fire and pulled her out, leaving Coco alone.

Kageyama jumped back from a thrust as a statue grew ti the ceiling and toppled ontop of him. "Guard Shadow!" A shield of shadows rose up and enveloped him before launching him out. "I'm not done yet!" Shadows grabbed Dan and pulled him into Kageyama, who promptly kicked Dan.

He raised his shield and blocked the attack, sending him sliding back. "Don't think I'm some punk you can beat up and rob." Dan said.

"I'm not that guy anymore." Kageyama declared. "I've changed my ways."

"You can't absolve yourself of your crimes." Dan snapped back. "And you never will!" He kicked a rock up into air and hit it with spear, creating a boulder that sent Kageyama crashing into a church on top of Lucy.

Simple chapter, but it does its job well. No butt jiggle idiots in this story, so I went with two former Raven Tail members. See ya next chapter.

Beta read by JballinR12.