Note: So yeah, last chapter.
Now, I mentioned that I really didn't like this arc already, but I think I should properly explain myself. I don't dislike this arc because I think it's poorly written or poorly executed, I dislike it because I really don't like excessive cruelty in fiction. Actually, let me rephrase that, I don't like cruelty for the sake of cruelty; scenes and story elements that exist for no real reason other than to torment the characters, and to serve as shock value. And so far, this arc has been quite cruel to the characters, particularly to Lucy, who was left badly beaten, with her confidence crushed, only to then get her identity stripped from her, and forcibly transformed and brainwashed into a sadistic monster. For all of the leads (save Natsu and Gray) to be twisted into these creatures and forced to fight, it's mean-spirited, and just not pleasant to read. This may have something to do with "Offscreen Inertia", which I mentioned several chapters ago, which is basically this: any given character is probably in the state they were last seen in, especially if you hope they aren't, and will remain in that state. Anyway, that's why I don't like this arc; if you disagree with me, that's fine, but that's how I feel (the fact that this chapter is released biweekly really doesn't help things).
Writing this is somewhat cathartic, considering how hard I took the revelation of Lucy's transformation (seriously, you should've seen me the night after Chapter 73 was released). Unfortunately, can replace the real thing, and I'm eagerly awaiting Lucy getting back to normal in anyway.
EDIT: Twice now, I've received condescending judgements about me with the same "oh you're just taking this too seriously, you're just being impatient". Yeah, well, maybe I am, but I'm not going to pretend to know how you feel, so don't act like you how I feel. I generally don't delete comments, but if it's is just going to be about me (who you don't really know) and not the story, then yeah, it's not going to stay. (the same reviewer also accused me of jumping the gun on a non-canon fanfic).
The Journey Continues
All things considered, the whole fiasco in Elentir had gone by like a blur. To Erza, it really did seem like they had just gotten there, and now really in the span of barely a day, they'd been captured, 2/3 of their party were turned into yokai, Natsu became a demon, and Selene was defeated. This seemed crazy, even by Fairy Tail standards (and that wasn't even factoring Erza finding out her mother was still around). Something she could tell her own children one day…
The transformation was somewhat unpleasant, and it took some arm twisting on Youko's part, but she explained the way to reverse the transformation, and Whiteout did the deed. Erza was now happy to have only four limbs instead of eight, and two eyes instead of four. She looked ups the ritual sight, as the priestess performed the spell on Wendy. The girl cried out softly, as the transformation was undone, and her cat-like features faded away, but fortunately, it was pretty quick, and at least Wendy was wearing clothes (unlike Erza and Lucy, since their animal-halves didn't couldn't fit any clothes).
"Finally!" Wendy said, as she jumped up and down, descending down to where Erza was, "I'm back to normal! Nya!" She "eeped" suddenly, as she covered her mouth.
"Well, some things might take a moment or so to wear off," Erza said, folding her arms with a slight chuckle, which Wendy returned with embarrassed smile. Irene had disappeared again, promising to return sometime later, but that she needed to rest for the time being. That was somewhat disappointing for Erza, as she had a lot of questions, but she could wait. That was when, while looking around, Wendy noticed something.
"Where's Lucy?" Wendy asked.
"And for that matter, where's Happy?" Carla asked.
"Once they were both turned back to normal, they went straight to the infirmary," Touka explained. Erza frowned at that. It had been a day since END defeated Selene, and since then, Natsu had been unconscious. They all but had to pull Lucy and Happy from his bedside, even to reverse the transformation. It had been an amusing sight, when Lucy came back up, still a nure-onna, with an unconscious Natsu on her back, especially as Irene had insisted seeing them like this probably wouldn't help the situation.
"Well, it'll probably do Natsu some good to wake up to friendly faces," Erza said, "Gods know he could use it after what he went through…"
(|)
Natsu blinked himself awake, finding himself staring at a wooden ceiling. He seemed to be lying on the floor on some kind of mat. Natsu tried to lean up, only to find a weight on his chest.
Looking down, he saw that lying on his stomach was Happy, back to his normal, cute form, sleeping peacefully. Natsu smiled as he reached up to scratch his ear. Happy stirred, but didn't wake up, which made Natsu's smile widen. That was when his gaze wandered, and he noticed, leaning on the wall beside, was another sleeping friend of his.
Seeing Lucy fully back to normal, no more scales, and no more snake-tail, felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulder. Despite himself, Natsu reached up, and stroked her face with the back of his hand. This had the unfortunate effect of waking her, as she opened her eyes to reveal her pretty, brown orbs, instead of the cold, amber slits.
"Natsu! You're awake!" Lucy said as she sat up, waking up Happy in the process.
"Natsu!" the Exceed said happily, as he hugged his friend's chest, "You're finally back to normal!"
"So are you guys," Natsu said as he sat up, "What happened?"
"Well, what do you remember?" Lucy asked.
"I was… down in the caves," Natsu said, rubbing his head, "And then I saw all of you guys as yokai…" He trailed off after that, as Lucy looked down, still ashamed of herself.
"Selene!" Natsu said, as his eyes widened, "What happened to her?" Lucy supposed it made sense he wouldn't remember that part.
"I'll tell you the full story later," she said, "Let's just say you beat her. Last I heard, Whiteout was doing something with her and her servants." Natsu cocked his head, looking confused, a look Lucy was very grateful to see on him again. However, that happy look on her face quickly faded, as she hung her head.
"Lucy," Natsu said, as he noticed her sniffling slightly, but visibly.
"I'm sorry," she eventually said softly, "I treated you so cruelly down in those caves."
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry," Natsu said, "What happened to you wasn't your fault, but I let my own anger and despair get the better of me." Lucy sniffed again, as she looked up, wiping a tear away.
"Honestly, I think anyone would've had the reaction you did," she responded, "I know I may have if I were you." Natsu sighed, as he lay back, staring at the ceiling.
"Why doesn't that make me feel any better?" he asked grimly. Lucy wished she could find something to say, but for the life of him, couldn't think of anything. Instead, she just gently reached over and put a hand over his.
"It's over," she said, "And we beat Selene. That's all that really matters, right?" Natsu didn't say anything, as he kept looking at the ceiling, before his gaze shifted up to her.
"Hey Lucy."
"Yeah?" Natsu then reached up, and to the blonde's surprise, he touched her face.
"I'm glad you're back to normal," he said. Lucy blinked, feeling the tears gather, before she gave him a smile, and touched his hand.
"And I'm glad you're back to normal too," she said softly.
"You liiiike him," Happy trilled as he floated beside Lucy. For once, Lucy didn't bother protesting it.
(|)
Selene gasped as she sat up, though that gasp quickly turned into a hiss, as she held her side. Looking down, she saw she was covered in bandages.
"Lady Selene!" The Moon Dragon looked up as her Moonlit Beauty Goddesses were suddenly surrounding her.
"You're awake!" Hakune said happily.
"I'm alive?" Selene said, surprised. She was sure that END would've killed her, and yet here she was? She was wearing a simple white kimono, as were her servants, and looking around, she saw they were all in a cage of sorts, which confused Selene; why hadn't any of them freed themselves yet? Were they waiting for Selene to wake up?
"Ironic isn't it?" Selene looked up to see a familiar face leaning on the wall outside the bars, a smugly triumphant looking face at that.
"Faris."
"The girl you transformed into a nure-onna was the one who calmed the demon," she continued, "In a way, you owe her your life."
"How fortunate we are," Selene said sarcastically, as she shakily rose to her feet, and turning to her servants, "Now would any of you care to tell me why I'm here, and you haven't broken us out?" The goddesses averted their eyes.
"Did you not hear me?" Selene said, narrowing her eyes. They didn't answer, as if the answer was hurtful in someway.
"Fine then, I'll do it myself," Selene said, rolling her eyes, and turning to Faris, and held up her hand, "I'd say make peace with your god, but there can be no peace with me." With that, she activated her magic and... nothing happened.
"What…," Selene said, as she looked at her hands. She then tried again, and with that didn't work, she attempted to use her breath attack, which only served to treat Faris to the amusing sight of a grown woman trying to shout her way out of her prison.
"You're powers are gone, Selene," Faris said with a laugh, "We whited out both you, as well as all your servants." Those words hit Selene like a slap in the face, as she just stared at Faris, a dumb look in her face, which made the girl laugh again.
"No…," Selene said softly.
"You should all count yourselves lucky," Faris said, "I honestly would've given you all back to END."
"NO!" Selene said, grabbing the bars, "You can't do this to me! Who do you think you are?!"
"Lady Selene…," Youko said softly.
"Oh be silent!" Selene snapped at her servant, "I don't have time any of your sycophancy right now!" Faris just laughed some more.
"Well, I'm the person who just wanted to save my home," she said with a shrug, "And you're now just the normal woman who used to be an invincible dragon. Well, invincible to the degree you got utterly pummeled by an Earthland demon." At this point, Selene was at any utter loss for words, as she fell to her knees.
"No… No…," she recited again and again, "This can't be my life now."
"Don't worry," Faris said, as she stood up straight, and held up her hands, "You'll all be going to a place where you'll be in good company.
"Where are you sending us?" Mimi demanded, rising to her feet.
"To a place where you and your minions can never hurt anyone ever again," Faris said, as she waved her hands, utilizing Aqua Aera.
"Earthland?" Youko asked. Faris just smiled, as it dawned on the four women where she had in mind.
"You think this is the end?!" Selene demanded, as she reached through the bars, trying to get to Faris, "I will find someway to get my power back! And when I do, I will return to Elentir and raze it to the ground! You won't ever…"
"Oh be quiet, you witless wyrm," Faris interrupted, as she waved her hands. There was a flash of light, as Selene cried out, holding her hands up.
(|)
The next thing Selene knew, she was being spat out on the grassy ground. Quickly leaning up, Selene noticed they were in a field, with mountains and a forest on the horizon. It was night, and the moon was high in the sky; but Selene felt no power from that moon, in fact, she didn't feel anything. She also noticed her Goddesses landing on the ground behind her. They all looked around as well, as horrible realization came over their faces.
"We're in Edolas," Youko said.
"We don't have any power anymore," Hakune said, as she looked at her hands, "We're just..." She didn't finish as Mimi held up her hand, rising to her feet.
"What're your orders Lady Selene?" Mimi asked, turning to her mistress. However, when she did, she only saw said woman on her knees, facing away from them, trembling slightly.
"Lady Selene?" But again, there was no answer. Selene just stared at the sky, as tears started to gather in her eyes, as her situation truly hit her. No more was she Selene, the Moon Dragon God; she was now Selene, the human woman of Edolas. And with that, Selene did the only she could: she cried to the moon, but it wasn't a tremendous, mighty roar that echoed across the land, and instilled fear in all those heard it. Far from it, it was a weak, and earthly scream, that vanished into the expanse of the night sky, and nobody would ever hear…
(|)
"You're not coming back to Earthland?" Happy cried.
"I'm sorry, Happy," Touka said, "But I have to stay here and help rebuild Elentir." Team Natsu was assembled in the Great Priestess' throne room, ready to go back to Earthland, with their duty done in Elentir. At any rate, two Dragon Gods still remained, namely Ignia and Viernes. The plan was to get back to Earthland, and start the search for Viernes.
"Now that Selene's gone, the intense magic that permeated Elentir will start to fade away," Faris explained, "It'll take time for the people to adjust, and we're going to need to help them." Happy pouted, disappointed that the one girl who returned his feelings was now going away.
"Don't worry," Touka said, as she suddenly hugged Happy, "I'll visit when I can." That made Happy smile a little bit.
"Hey Carla!" Touka then called to the white exceed, before smiling, and asking, "Look after Happy for me, won't you?" Carla blinked in surprise, before returning the smile.
"I can do that," she said with a nod. The Great Priestess then rose from her throne, her arm in a sling, and looking beat up, but not severely, as she descended the steps of her dais.
"I owe you all a debt of gratitude," she said with a smile, "In fact, all of Elentir does. If ever you are in need, you need only call, and the forces of Whiteout will be at your aide." While most of the team was glad for her support, their namesake wasn't so keen on her help.
"Hey!" Natsu protested, "Gray told me you cut off my arm!" The Priestess paused before coughing into her hand slightly.
"I was just doing what I thought necessary," she said.
"I won't get over that easily!" Natsu said, waving his fist in anger.
"Just calm down," Lucy said, patting his shoulder, "You got your arm back, and that's what matters most right?"
"That regeneration seemed handy," Wendy commented, "Too bad we couldn't keep certain things from our yokai forms, or Etherious form in Natsu's case."
"I will say that one thing I'll miss about being a yokai is being able to produce my own silk," Erza agreed, "That would've been a very handy ability to possess."
"Not me," Lucy said, shaking her head firmly, "I like have my legs back, thank you very much."
"Trust me, I'm glad to get rid of all that," Natsu said firmly, before pumping his fist, and declaring, "Now come on! We've only got two dragons left! Let's go finish them off, and get back home!"
"Geez, "Gray said, "Weren't you just bedridden yesterday?"
"Well I'm all fired up now!" Natsu answered, punching his palm, "And I'm ready to keep the quest going!" Faris looked to the Great Priestess, who just nodded. With that, Faris took a breath, as she drew her hands in a circle, generating a ring of water for Aqua Aera, which quickly manifested in the portal.
"I'm sure everyone's really worried about us," Wendy said.
"Well, this'll probably take some explaining," Erza said, "We'd better get there quickly." Gray just smiled, realizing just how much he was looking forward to seeing Juvia again.
"Thank you for everything," Faris said with a smile.
"Bye Happy!" Touka said, waving.
"Touka!" Happy cried as Carla pulled him on.
"Alright!" Natsu said, "We've got a quest to finish!" Lucy just smiled at Natsu for that, as she realized just how happy she was to see that smile.
And with that, Team Natsu began the next step in their adventure…
Note: I never planned to actually kill Selene. I thought a much more fitting fate for a character as arrogant and cruel as her would be to be stripped of the power she loved so much, and doomed to live the rest of her life as just a simple mortal woman, in a world without magic. Perhaps that's worse than death for her.
Please leave a comment, and thanks for reading. I have no intention of writing a sequel; this story is self-contained, and works in conjunction with this arc in particular. But that said, I'm currently working on a new Fairy Tail fanfic; it's still in the planning stages, but I'm hoping to see the first chapter published soon.
It frustrated me that nearly a month after the chapter came out, so few writers tackled the yokai Lucy concept. I hope that some day we'll see some more.
Alright, with all that done, let me go over different ways this story could've gone:
One thing I'm betting some people may have picked up in the original version, was that the yokai didn't talk. At the time, I thought it was more tragic if they had all just become mindless monsters, without the ability to speak, and motivated by animalistic goals. However, when the new chapter came out, confirming they retained their intelligence, and much of their original personalities (albeit with a sadistic, predatory edge), I thought that was actually better, and lent itself to more opportunity.
Irene was originally going to have a different role (that tied into the above idea). While I was always planing on her mock Selene and her servants, I originally planned to have her possess Wendy directly, then move onto Youko. She would then transform the others back to normal, and then Lucy, as a human again, would go over to talk Natsu down. But I realized that having her do it as a nure-onna allowed for a much better scene than that, so I scrapped that general idea.
All in all, the developments of Chapter 74 didn't really impact the story as much as I thought they would. The general conflict remained the same, just the details changed slightly. I'm actually guessing Erza is going to be an oni in the manga, but I'm going to keep her a jorogumo in this story, just because an oni wouldn't work as well in this fic's context.
I considered a few ways to make the NaLu elements more overt in this, but I couldn't find anyway to really include it as the story was written, but I think I was still able to fit some NaLu moments in there; maybe not necessarily the heavy moments some may have wanted, but they're there. Honestly, one of my greater fears about the manga as a whole, is that Mashima will commit to all of the major pairings (as he seems to have done) except for NaLu, and will leave that one unresolved. I'd like to hope that he wouldn't do that to his readers, but until we get some really solid development for the two, and not just teasing, I'll remain nervous.
As a final send off, here are my hopes (hopes not predictions) for the arc as a whole, starting with next chapter: Aquarius will provide someway for Lucy to be brought back to normal, even if it's just mentally, so Lucy's got her senses back (I think it'd be really cool to see Lucy being a yokai, but fighting with Natsu instead of trying to kill him). Natsu and Lucy then strike out into the caves together to find the others. Irene will use some technique to either take control of Wendy, or get her own senses back, and Wendy will call Happy and Carla off Gray. Selene, annoyed that her fun has been interrupted, sends Mimi down, who fights Natsu and Lucy, who manage to beat her working together (it would allow Lucy to get back her own). They are then confronted by Erza (transformed into an oni), and after beating her, they manage to escape, with help from Whiteout. And from there, Selene goes out to find them, determined to kill them.
Now, these are my predictions for the coming arc: Aquarius will beat Lucy, and take back to the Celestial Spirit World, where she can be turned back to normal (I'm hoping Natsu won't just leave, and will stick around to help). Meanwhile, Irene takes control of Wendy, and stops Happy and Carla, before telling Gray to go on ahead. Natsu and Gray meet Erza (again as an oni), and the two team up to beat her; after beating Erza, Selene loses her patience, and orders her Goddesses to deal with them. The goddesses go down, but Gray and Natsu are backed up by Lucy and Wendy, turned back to normal.
