A/N: I've been gone for a little bit... so time to catch up, right? It's been a few months since Fairy Tail has ended, and I have to say it still doesn't feel real. Maybe, it's because we know the anime is coming back next year, so it's not officially over as there is still more to come. But, the ending left a sour taste in my mouth with the amount of open story lines that have no real ending. I won't go into it here, though.

Fairy Tail may be over, but this story is definitely not! Again, I apologize for the absence, but I am back! For an update on life and future updates, be sure to read the author's note at the end!

Please enjoy!

War of Fire

-O-

Chapter 5: Welcome to the Rebellion

Traveling with Natsu and Happy has certainly been different than Lucy traveling on her own. The two Resistance members were rambunctious and loud. Happy was a mischievous little cat with a sometimes-dark humor. He was constantly teasing Lucy and poking fun at her.

Natsu owned a much different persona than that of when he was in battle. Outside of battle, he was carefree and loud, his grin never failing to fall off his face. He shared many stories, some about the Resistance, but most were about food and all the dishes he's gotten to try since joining the freedom fighters.

Lucy found herself laughing quite a bit.

Those two boys never failed to put a smile on her face.

Except when Happy was teasing her about her weight.

But, after promising to tie Happy to a roasting stick when their food ran short, the blue feline has since made a comment towards the blond stellar mage.

"We've been traveling for a bit. Are we almost to the Resistance base?" Lucy had to ask, as a shower would do wonders for her body at this point.

Natsu and Happy stopped in front of her. They both looked at one another, and grimaced.

"Well…." He started and Lucy was now crossing her arms out in front of her.

"Well, what?" She began to split her look between both her new traveling companions, and they both looked nervous.

"It's just.." And the Salamander's voice trailed off.

"Just what?" Now this was seeming odd, and it made her skin crawl. What were those two boys hiding form her?

"We're kind of already here?" Happy said as he floated above Natsu.

The blonde turned sharply, searching the surrounding area, and seeing nothing but trees and shrub. She turned back towards the boy and arched a brow.

"What do you mean we're here? There's nothing around us!"

Lucy felt a sudden chill as the air around her froze. Her body was tingly at the detection of multiple magical sources.

Bushes and shrubs moved, the air around them freezing and Lucy immediately reached for her keys. Suddenly, there were five cloaked figures around them. Their faces were shrouded by the hoods over their heads and Lucy began to panic inwardly.

Moving into her defensive stance, she readied herself for battle.

But, when her eyes landed on Natsu, she went wide eyed.

He was standing, Happy landing on his shoulder. They made no gesture to move, not even ready themselves for a looming battle. She was perplexed at their sudden behavior.

Hearing the faint footsteps behind her, Lucy moved quickly, avoiding whatever magic they tried to strike her with. She threw a kick at the cloaked individual, hoping to ward off the others.

Her kick landed, the stranger falling backwards.

Before she could make another step, ice formed at her feet and she couldn't move. Panic filled her eyes and she looked to Natsu and Happy for help.

Only to find that they disappeared.

There was a fear in her heart as the ice crept higher and higher, now enclosing her arms. She couldn't feel anything as the cold slowly overtook the heat in her body. She wanted to scream out for help, scream for Happy or Natsu to come and save her.

The ice stopped at her shoulders, and she was freezing now.

"I'm sorry, Lucy."

And that was the last thing she heard before she was knocked out.

-O-

Guilt rose in him as he watched them take her away. He frowned, kicking at the dirt below him.

Natsu should have really warned her ahead of time, but there wasn't much he could do.

After all, this was war.

Even though he knew Lucy was harmless, the Resistance had no idea.

It was a common procedure, he would explain to her once she was awake and released from detainment.

They had to assure that whoever they were taking in was on the freedom fighter's side. They couldn't afford taking in any spies.

She was going to be furious with him, wasn't she?

"I feel bad, Natsu." Happy sat on his head and the pyromaniac rubbed at his partner's head.

"Yeah, me too buddy."

The dark cave began to illuminate at the sensation of his tattoo, paving the way towards the central base of the Resistance. To outsiders, this seemed like another dark, empty cave. There was no real end in sight, at least, that's what the freedom fighter's wanted them to think.

This cave was coated in different magical spells, one that lightened the cave at the detection of their Resistance tattoo. The other masked the spell that illuminated this cave. They couldn't have imperial soldiers accidently discovering this cave and sensing the magic filled in the caverns.

Not that many soldiers could anyway.

Detecting magic was a rare technique and quality in the remaining mages. Those who could were brought to the capital immediately.

Lucy could sense magic.

With his thoughts drifting back to her, guilt crept up again.

She was going to kill him, wasn't she?

Natsu continued trekking through the cave with Happy, mulling about Lucy's fate with the Resistance leaders.

He wasn't too worried about her.

Lucy head a good heart. The Salamander saw her grit and determination, her fire. She threw herself into battle fully acknowledging that she wasn't matched against her opponents. But, that didn't stop her from trying.

If it meant saving another person's life, she was going to do what she could to win.

Even if it meant sacrificing herself.

Only knowing her for a few days had told him all that.

The Resistance would be lucky to have someone with her ability on their side.

"Man! I can't wait to get some grub in!" Natsu said, in hopes of turning their thoughts away from Lucy, who was probably being interrogated right now.

That didn't settle well in his stomach.

"How can you think about food at a time like this? Poor Lucy is going to be so mad at us!" Happy cried out, and Natsu looked away in shame.

"She'll understand why we did it! It's just part of the procedure… right?"

Happy shook his head, crossing his hands in front of him. "If that's what gets you through the day."

Natsu grimaced once more, thinking about what they may be doing to her at this moment.

-O-

When she woke up, her body felt sluggish. Her eyes fluttered open, the adrenaline beginning to course through her body. It ignited her survival instincts as panic rose.

The last she remembered, ice was covering her body, burying her alive.

And Natsu and Happy were nowhere to be seen.

She stabilized her breathing, realizing that panicking would only deprive her of needed energy to escape. Lucy began to survey the area, immediately looking for signs of an exit.

Moving was difficult though as her hands and legs were cuffed.

But, the cuffs that encased her hands was not like the rope Bora and his goons tied her with. They were magic induced cuffs that neutralized her magic. She could feel the magic swirling around the metal cuffs that locked her hands.

Whoever kidnapped her was smart. They were smart and dangerous.

Being captured twice in four days was not exactly on Lucy's check list. Yet, somehow, she found herself being kidnapped all too easily.

She wondered if Natsu and Happy were okay. They had disappeared when she had looked over to them for help.

They didn't… leave her, did they?

No, that was rubbish. There was no way he would leave her behind that way. Even though she had only known him for a short amount of time, Natsu didn't peg her as the type to abandon others, especially those who fought for freedom against the empire.

Unless, he was with the empire and was fooling her this entire time?

She shook her head.

No, that was unreasonable. He had decimated an entire platoon of imperial soldiers. Yajima-san had allowed him into his home and showed him The Black Magic Market. He saved her from a human sex trafficker.

Someone of Natsu's nature didn't work for the Empire.

But that begs the question… why did he disappear?

The blonde mage shifted in her step, and noticed a lacking of noise. Specifically, felt a lack of weight dangling from her loop belt.

"My keys!?" Her eyes searched frantically for them, tears forming at the rims.

She couldn't lose her keys! Not again!

But her thoughts were interrupted at the creaking of a door, a bright light encompassing her new company. She closed her eyes, the shining light overwhelming her.

She heard another creak, and then a slam. When she opened her eyes again, she sucked in a breath.

In front of her stood two individuals.

The first was a small man that Lucy was having to look down towards. He was balding, with white patches of hair riding along his ear. He was dressed in an orange cloak, dark slacks, with a white shirt under his cloak. His black eyes were hardened as they gazed at her. Despite his size, the blonde mage felt a chill travel down her back.

The second figure to enter the room was a young woman, a bit taller than the older man next to her. She had soft features with pale, blonde hair cascading down her back. Her dull, green eyes were soft, fire dancing lightly in the emerald colored pupils. She seemed much younger than the gentlemen on either side of her. In actuality, the pale woman looked even younger than herself.

She sucked in another breath as the woman stared into her.

What had Lucy grounded though was the insane amount of magic she could feel coursing through each of their individual body's. Their magical presence was almost suffocating as she attempted to drown out their magical wave length. Flinching at the sheer force, Lucy knew she was in the presence of powerful wizards, ones that would make the Salamander grovel at his knees.

Were they part of the Empire? Separatists? Were they part of the Resistance?

Lucy's instincts were telling her it was the latter.

But nevertheless, she has been wrong before. And she could be in a deep puddle of trouble here; trouble that she wouldn't be able to get herself out of.

She was Lucky Lucy the entirety of her life.

But, lucky could only get her so far.

She gulped once more and attempted to stand confidently in her spot. They wouldn't know she was ready to buckle over and cry her way out of this situation. Without her keys, she was all but helpless.

The pale blonde lifted her right hand and snapped her fingers. The celestial mage closed her eyes, pulling away. Torture? Was that to come?

But all Lucy found when she slightly opened her eyes was a table and chairs.

What the hell?

The two figures that stood in front of her all took a seat and she was left bewildered. Her mouth agape, and eyes cautious, the blonde inspected the area in front of her.

"Please, sit." The pale blonde spoke as she gestured towards the chair.

For a voice as soft as hers, Lucy felt like it was echoing around her. Despite her girlish features, there was an earnest demeanor about her.

The pale blonde ushered for her to sit once more. Her face was void of emotion, but Lucy could have sworn she saw a hint of a smile.

If she hoped to get out alive and have her keys returned to her, she needed to comply with their demands and questions.

Lucy took a seat and watched the three wizards in front of her carefully.

"Where are my keys?" The words left her lips before she could stop herself. She wanted to kick herself for that, knowing she wasn't really in the position to demand.

"Away for the time being." The pale blonde spoke again.

Lucy narrowed her eyes. "Until when?"

"Until we are sure." She responded once more.

She was now glaring, unhappy with her answer. Lucy didn't understand. She didn't even know who these two were!

"Sure of what? I don't even know who you people are." Her voice heightened at their discreetness.

"You are a celestial mage."

Lucy eyes went agape as the pale blonde with even paler features spoke out.

How would she know that?

Only a wizard with the ability to sense magic could distinct the type of magic a user has. And most wizards with this ability can only sense the wavelength. Only a selected few could distinguish mages from one another.

"Celestial magic is rare in these times." The pale blonde spoke again, the older man still staring intently towards her.

There was a frog in Lucy's throat, trying to make sense of this young woman's comment. "What makes you think I'm a celestial mage?"

The dulled eyed woman gave a slight smile. "Holder type magic isn't as common as it once was. Caster magic is primarily used by both the Empire and the Rebellion."

"That still didn't answer my question." Lucy replied with a harsh tone. The pale blonde's eyes flickered between her and the old man sitting next to her.

"Golden gate keys aren't just wielded by the common guard or rebel. And Cancer, Aquarius, and Taurus have been missing for many years now."

Lucy suddenly felt nausea. Her face paled at the identification of her celestial spirits. Wherever she was, and whoever captured her was knowledgeable.

"Who are you and what do you want with me?" Lucy didn't care what position she was in. She played enough games in her lifetime to indulge in anymore. Answers were needed now.

"Why don't you tell me why you're here?" She leaned forward, hands intertwined together. The old man had yet to say a word. Lucy felt naked under his gaze as he stared at her.

"I'm here because you brought me here!" She replied with frustration. This was pointless! She was getting nowhere.

She supposed she could be grateful though. They have yet to result to torture. With her feistiness and her sarcastic comments, she was a prime subject for torture.

"Why were you in company with the Salamander?"

So, he speaks.

The older man finally spoke as a croaky voice filled the room.

She couldn't jeopardize Natsu. He was important to the Resistance, to the movement against the emperor. If she made any indication that she knew the Salamander personally, they could attempt to use any information she had on him against him and their entire movement.

"Who wants to know?"

Her interrogators didn't react to her reply. They remained quiet, processing her words. They were most likely thinking of their next move.

"Why don't you leave the questions to us?" The pale blonde said.

Lucy scowled. "Feel free to shoot away, but I can't guarantee you any answers."

"What do you know about the Salamander?" The older man's gruff voice asked, and Lucy all but glowered at him.

"That if he was here right now, you'd all be burned to a crisp."

She had seen Natsu's monstrous power firsthand. Images of his former opponents filled her mind as she thought of his deadly attacks. He had no remorse for those who hurt innocent lives, or for those who hurt his friends.

"What do you know about the Rebellion?"

Bingo.

If they were asking questions about Natsu and the rebellion, they had to be part of the Empire.

And they weren't just grunts either. They had to be higher in the chain of command. The way they presented themselves, how dignified and professional they were, they had to be part of the Emperor's inner circle or close.

But, Lucy wasn't going to make any indication to her knowing the truth. She would play along, pretend that she in the dark about their true identities.

"Nothing that would benefit you."

By the looks of things, her chances for escape were dwindling by the second. With no end of interrogation in sight, and the absence of other personnel, it didn't seem like she was finding a way out soon.

Her interrogators decided to stay quiet, probably for intimidation purposes. But, Lucy wasn't going to take this anymore. She was going to take matters into her own hands.

"Look, I have no idea who the hell you people are. You could be rebels, or separatists, or even anti-magic. Hell, you could even be imperials." She was hoping for some type of reaction; something that would affirm their loyalty to the Empire.

But noting came.

"And where do you pledge your allegiance, girl?" The balding man's voice boomed, and the celestial mage found his eyes.

So… that was the game they wanted to play? Smoke out the bait. See where her loyalties lied, which party she belonged too. They needed to identify her status, her position. And this was the way to do it.

She would have to tell the truth.

"My allegiance lies with the victims of this war; with those who can't fend for themselves; with those who are exploited, tortured, abused. With those who have lost everything to this horrid and cruel war. My allegiance stands with the innocent lives that have been disrupted because a man decided he wanted to play God and uproot this entire country."

Her breath was labored, heart pounding in her throat.

"My allegiance stands with those who decide to fight for the injustice in our country, and the liberation of it's people."

Imagine her surprise when a small smile graced the lips of the pale blonde in front of her.

The old man shifted his gaze towards the floor, crossing his hands, and chuckling at her response.

What the hell was going on?

"Your mother's spirit burns strongly in you." The green-eyed woman spoke, and Lucy's jaw dropped with widened eyes.

My… mother?

"She is a spitting image of Layla." Adding to the conversation, the old man mentioned her mother… by name.

Lucy was shocked, confused, bewildered by the revelation. How in the world did they know her mother?!

"Wait, wait, wait. How do you know my mother?" She asked… no, demanded. Her mother has been dead for almost ten years now.

The magic inhibiting cuffs on her wrists and hands disappeared, the room swirling around her. Lucy watched with slight terror as the dark, prison room she was just in was disappearing right before her eyes.

The room shifted, Lucy losing her footing. She fell to the floor, feeling the magic swirl around her.

She looked back at the pale blonde with distress, anxiety filling her.

Whoever this woman was, she was a powerful mage.

The room stopped spinning, and that's when the blonde noticed the change in their setting.

No longer was she trapped in a dark lit room. Instead, she found herself in a gray colored room, windows separating her from the other side. There was a table, and a few chairs.

A gold tint caught her eyes.

Her keys were sprawled across the table.

Lucy raced for them, grabbing and clutching them to her chest so incredibly tight. Tears she was holding back were running down her cheeks. For that short moment, she forgot about her capturers, and their familiarity to her mother.

Her mother was dead. There was nothing she could do about that, not anymore.

But her keys were still here with her. And that was the last thing she had in this world that still connected her to her mother.

A door creaked open, and Lucy immediately went into defense. Taurus key was ready to call upon as her detainers walked in through the door.

"We do apologize for the unpleasantry's." The pale woman spoke as she stood confidently. The short, old man nodded, a small grin hiding under his mustache. "It was just a necessary precaution."

"Who are you? And how do you know my mother?" Lucy demanded answers. No more games. She was prepared to call out Taurus and muscle her way through this prison.

Her eyes widened, as if just realizing she didn't answer the question Lucy had been asking for the last few hours.

"Ms. Heartfilia, you can put your keys away. We are not here to hurt you."

Lucy's eyes almost popped out of her head as the old man called her out by name.

This did not make her feel any safer.

"How do you know who I am?" She clutched onto Taurus' key, her apprehension building.

"We've been waiting for you for some time now, Lucy." The green-eyed woman spoke with a soft whisper, moving towards the blonde. Lucy froze at the mention of her first name. "Fate has finally brought us together."

Who are these people?

"My name is Mavis Vermillion, and this is Makarov Dreyar. We head the fight against the Empire. Welcome to the Resistance, Lucy Heartfilia."

A/N: Hello everyone! So sorry about the absence for the last few months. Life got kind of tricky these last couple months. This girl put her big girl pants on and got her a new job that is 8-5 pretty much every day. And I have an evening job right after and on weekends. So, it doesn't leave much room to write. But, I try when I can. Updates may be slower than usual, but know that I am still every bit as dedicated!

Not much to say about this chapter other than Lucy's official introduction to the Rebellion. Natsu may have brought her, but this isn't like Fairy Tail. She can't just waltz in and say she wants to be a rebel. Certain procedures and protocols must be followed. This is war after all.

I'm already working on the next chapter, so keep an eye out for that! Reviews, comments, and questions are always encouraged!

Until next time!

- Dark Waffle