"Blondie, we've been walking for 20 minutes since the village. Where is this mansion?"

"Oh, that wasn't a village, Sparky. It was where the staff lived.", said Lucy casually.

Not long after, the mansion came into view. Those who had never seen it were surprised. Evergreen wondered why Lucy never acted like a spoiled princess.

As they neared the mansion, Lucy warned the crew.

"After the accident with the clock, I erected stronger wards around it. It would be your best choice not to touch anything unless I say so."

The mismatched group of mages was surprised. The mansion was huge! The entrance hall on its own was almost as big as their guildhall!

Lucy led them through the halls and down some rickety old stairs.

"I haven't been in here since my mom died. It was too painful. I didn't have much time either."


"This mansion has been in our family for almost 400 years. Before my grandfather renovated it, it was a castle. That's why the walls down here are so old."

Freed was drinking the information like sponge water. He made a mental reminder to ask Lucy if she would like to tell him more.

"Not to interrupt, or anything, but we've been walking for almost an hour.", said Gray. "I hate to be like Natsu, but are we there yet?"

Lucy sighed. "Yes, we are there."

She turned to the others.

"Now remember what I told you before we entered the mansion. Do not touch anything. The wards are stronger down here."

They noded and watched as Lucy touched the wall.

To their astonishment, the wall melted away to show an old door.

Lucy put a finger where the door handle should be, and the door opened.

The crew followed Lucy into the unknown. All around them, on the walls, were paintings of strange people.

Evergreen shuddered. She felt like the people in the paintings could move, and were watching them.

"Hey, Cosplayer?", asked Bickslow nervously. "What's with the paintings? They feel weird."

"Oh, just ignore them. They like to scare people.", she answered as she led them down the hall.

"Duh. That's the only thing we can do besides hanging around Potty, and he is boring.", said a voice from their left.

They jumped as another voice made an appearance.

"Hey! Don't talk about my Pup like that!"

They turned to their left to see a painting of a middle-aged man with shaggy black hair scowl at a painting of a young, blonde-haired, blue-eyed man.

The paintings were moving!

They watched as Lucy waked to the paintings.

"Uncle Draco! Uncle Sirius! If you don't want me telling aunt Andy that you were misbehaving again, you should shut up."

The black-haired man immediately brightened up.

"Lucy-boo! You've grown up! Oh, I have to tell Pup that you're back! See ya, kid!"

To their greater shock, Sirius disappeared.

Lucy turned to the other man, but before she could say anything, he spoke.

"Your mother is in the Grimoire Room. And you should explain some things to your friends. They look pretty shocked." He smiled. "You've grown to be a beautiful young lady, Lucy. We are proud of you."

She grinned. "Thank you, Uncle Draco. Hug aunt Astoria for me."

She continued down the hall. "Guys, you better come or you'll get lost, and we don't want that, do we?", she said over her shoulder.


"Lucy, what was that?", asked Erza. "Yeah, the paintings were moving!", yelled Natsu.

"Just like a Lacrima Vision!", added Happy.

"That was a part of our family magic. Every time a Heartfillia dies, a portrait of them is magically created, unless they already had one, and tied to their magic. Of course, we weren't always Heartfillias. My family can trace its roots to the time before dragons ruled the world. Without the grimoire, that would have been impossible to do."

"Who are the people you talked to, Lucy-san?", asked Wendy.

"They are my ancestors. They lived a long, long time ago. Nearly a thousand years ago. Well, that's what my mom told me. I was never allowed to read the grimoire.", said Lucy.

"Mom always said I was too young."

"Do you think this grimoire would help us at all, Blondie?", asked Laxus.

"It should. Everything that a Heartfillia ever saw, or lived through, will be in that book.", she said.

"Then it has to be big, the book, I mean.", said Gray. "With how many ancestors you have, I don't think we can bring it with us."

"Don't worry, Gray. My ancestors weren't stupid. They charmed it so that doesn't happen."

"How?", started Freed, but Lucy cut him off. "I have a book at home that explains it. You can borrow it if you want."

Freed smiled and nodded.

After a few minutes, they approached another door. This door was pure black, with beautiful white carvings all over it. This door as much bigger than the other one. The same symbol that the master showed them before they went on this mission was in the middle of the door.

Lucy put her hand on the symbol, and it glowed. The door opened, and they followed her in.

Tbc...

OK, hiii!

I am back again with another short chapter bc I am physically unable to write anything longer than 900 words.

I am so sorry for the long wait.

I have a lot more time now so the updates may come faster, but we'll see.

And the main pairing will be Laxus x Lucy bc I can.

Byeeeeeeeeeeee